As we enjoy this glorious Melbourne autumn weather, Term 2 continues with much to celebrate and some wonderful community events. It was with great pleasure that I joined a group of Siena ...

As we enjoy this glorious Melbourne autumn weather, Term 2 continues with much to celebrate and some wonderful community events. It was with great pleasure that I joined a group of Siena College staff, Board member and Chair-Elect, Kath McCarthy, alumna Anne Hocking, and thirteen students at the seventh annual Susan Alberti Foundation Mother's Day luncheon. Held at Leonda by the Yarra, the luncheon is a key fundraising event for the foundation which provides ongoing support for medical research at St Vincent's Institute (SVI). Importantly, this includes vital financial assistance to female researchers whilst they are on maternity leave so that their work can continue. This year's guest speaker was Professor Helen Thomas, Head of the Immunology and Diabetes Unit at SVI who spoke of the exciting developments into treatment for those living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Once again we are so proud of our music students who travelled to Generations in Jazz at Mt Gambier last weekend. The Stage Band, conducted by Ben Nieuwkerk, were the winners for Division 3.2 and Canti Dolce were awarded fifth place in the same division. Celina Maderski was awarded a place in the Division 3 super band for the second year in a row for her performance on baritone saxophone. Our warm congratulations go to all who participated and our thanks to the Siena College staff who accompanied the students: Kerryn McGillen, Ben Nieuwkerk, Stephanie Hill, Ivan Rosa, Daniel Sheehan and Joshua Bennier.

Our thanks are extended to the Siena Parents' Association for a wonderful Mothers’ Day Breakfast last week. The gymnasium was full to capacity as over four hundred guests gathered to enjoy a delicious buffet. Board member and Siena alumna, Kath McCarthy (Class of 1989), was the guest speaker and her thoughts on the realities of balancing career with family life were engaging and humorous. An excerpt from Kath's speech follows:

'Of course, being a mother is about bringing a physical life into the world: having a baby. What we appreciate on Mother's Day is what happens after that. Not the noun, the FACT of being a mother, instead the VERB of mothering, the nurturing, the shaping and the singing into life of the people entrusted to our care. Of taking a little person who is for a couple of decades at least, vulnerable and dependant and showing them that amongst the billions of people in the world, you are seen. You belong. You are not alone.'

Over the weekend, the College Board and Committees will gather for the annual Board In Service, to focus on a range of matters including a new Business Plan as a precursor to the next Master Plan, reflection on our Mission as a Catholic school in the Dominican tradition and how we discern Truth as well as a range of other governance matters including Child Safety. Our College continues to grow and flourish because of the generous commitment and support of many people, and for this we are so very grateful.

Siena in The City Showcase

Thank you to all Year 9 parents and students who attended the Siena in the City Parent Showcase. It was a great evening of excitement and excellent information. The students spoke confidently and happily shared their wonderful experiences of ‘finding Dominic’ in the city. Thank you to Belinda Duncan, Head of Religious Education and the Year 9 Religious Education teachers for engaging the students and providing opportunities of faith in action.

As we approach the busy end of term in regards to assessment, I refer to some of the learning and teaching matters that I wrote about to parents at the beginning of the year.

Semester 1 Reports

The Semester 1 Report will again report on the five specific Classroom Learning Indicators and parents and students will be able to see if there has been any progress or consolidation in this area. It will also include a statement of results of all assessment tasks and at Years 7 to 11, an overall percentage score taking into consideration the individual weightings for each task. If a percentage score is not given, a letter grade is used, such as NS – a school sanctioned absence and no penalty or NA – not assessed and a score of zero. At Year 12, it will consist of S (Satisfactory or N (Not Satisfactory) for each assessment task. Semester reports will not have teacher comments, as the feedback has been throughout the semester and targeted to the assessment task.

Submission of Work Procedures Year 7 to 11

All assignments, whether hard copy or electronic, must be received by the College on the due date and time set by the subject teacher.

In the case of a known absence, a student must submit a ‘Change of Assessment date’ form with the assessment task prior to the due date. The student can submit both documents either directly to the subject teacher, or email them or upload to Siena Central by the due date.

In the case of an unforeseen absence, the student must submit the ‘Change of Assessment date’ form with the assessment task assignment to the class teacher in their next class with either a medical certificate (for illness or injury) or a written statement from parents or guardians supporting the situation.

When required, it is also the responsibility of the student to ensure that the teacher has approved a ‘Change of Assessment date’ application. Failure to do so, and the subsequent submission of late work, will result in a score of zero for the assessment task and NA on the report. The ‘Change of Assessment date’ form can be accessed on Siena Central in the Student Zone or obtained from Student Reception.

Absence from Tests, Presentations and Performances

Absence on the day of a test, presentation or performance is sometimes unavoidable.

Whatever the unforeseen circumstance, the assessment must be fair both to the individual student and to all other students enrolled in the subject.

All students must meet the same performance standards and requirements of knowledge and skills required by other students. Consequently, tests, presentations and performances for which a student has been absent must be completed at another time. At Years 7 to 11, this will normally occur in the next lesson. At Year 12, a rescheduled date will be negotiated with the Head of Senior Pathways. Assessment tasks will only be rescheduled by the Subject Teacher where appropriate evidence substantiating the absence has been provided and an extension requested and granted.

If the task is not completed zero marks will be allocated and an ‘NA’ (Not Assessed) recorded on the end of semester report.

Holidays during the Term

Please note that Siena College does not support students going on holidays outside of the scheduled term holidays, as it can be very disruptive to a student’s learning. If a student is unable to complete the set assessment task or an examination due to their holiday absence, the student will receive a zero and NA for the task on their report. Unfortunately, examinations cannot be rescheduled outside the designated time. However, in some instances, students may be able to complete the assessment task prior. We ask for your support in this matter. If you require further clarification, please speak to the relevant Head of Student Wellbeing.

Last week of Term 2

Just a reminder that Friday 21 June will be the last day of Term 2 for students. Teaching staff will participate in a Staff Week until 28 June, dedicated to the marking of examinations, preparation of reports and Professional Learning. Semester Two, Term 3 will commence on Monday 15 July.

Family Week

The theme for Family Week 2019 is Building Connections in the Spirit of Hope.

This year’s focus on the dynamic concept of Hope, how it can be celebrated and strengthened within families, schools or parish communities, highlights that we are at our best when we are connected to others and to the world around us.

Genuine hope is built on vulnerability and love, rather than self defence and indifference, on a joy that seeks new opportunities rather than a fear that constantly sees new threats, on a strong community base rather than individualism, on building bridges not walls. This sits beautifully alongside one of our 2019 College priorities, which is to strengthen connectedness.

A blog from Fr Gerard Dowling OAM on the Spirit of Hope, looking at this year's theme for Family Week:

2019 Australian Catholic Youth Festival

ACYF is an initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and is Australia’s largest national gathering of Catholic young people.It exists to:

Provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus

Be empowered to be disciples in the world today

Encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia

The festival will use the scriptural focus of the 2020 Plenary Council, ‘Listen to what the Spirit is saying’ (Rev 2:7).

2019 ACYF will be held in Perth from 8-10 December and further information is available to students on Siena Central.

Child Safety remains a central focus for schools and at Siena we are engaging student voice to measure just how safe our students feel. All students in Years 9 to 11 will be ...

Child Safety

Child Safety remains a central focus for schools and at Siena we are engaging student voice to measure just how safe our students feel. All students in Years 9 to 11 will be invited to participate in the Australian Safe Kids and Young People (ASK-YP) Pilot Project run in conjunction with Catholic Education Melbourne and Australian Catholic University. The survey results will provide us with important feedback about what we are doing well and what areas may require further attention. Our student Child Safety Committee has been meeting to create a College poster that reflects an understanding of Child Safety. These students collaborated and negotiated to arrive at the preferred wording, and they will be the ones to launch the poster at House Assemblies this term. Siena is also a partner school for Respectful Relationships and parents are invited to attend a forum run by students for parents at Mazenod College on 23 May. Please refer to the advertisement below for this event and book online at www.trybooking.com/BCLTQ.

Parenting Styles: What type of parent are you?

There are so many different opinions offered on how best to parent. New parents will often have firm beliefs about how they wish to balance love and discipline, but this ideal often goes out the window when a toddler throws their first tantrum in the supermarket!

Raising children can bring parents and caregivers great joy despite many learning ‘on the job’ and growing into the role through experience and understanding. Children will always flourish in a warm and loving environment, supported by clear guidance.

In this SchoolTV Special Report, parents and caregivers can gain a greater understanding of the four defined parenting styles by taking part in the quiz. It can guide parents towards deciding which style they wish to adopt and the effects it may have on their children.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Parents are reminded to please SMS the College if your daughter is going to be absent from school or arriving late. The SMS number is 0408 639 190.

Student Absence Notifications

Parents are reminded to please SMS the College if your daughter is going to be absent from school or arriving late. The SMS number is 0408 639 190.

Extended periods of absence can also be notified via SMS or by emailing absences@siena.vic.edu.au. Office staff will pass on information regarding extended absences to your daughter’s Head of Student Wellbeing who will, in turn, inform the subject teachers. If your daughter is marked absent from House Group and any subsequent classes and we have not received notification from the family of an absence or late arrival, we will send an Absent/Late SMS Notification to families.

We appreciate your assistance in notifying the College office in advance of any late arrivals or absences.

This year marked our twenty-first St Catherine's Day Fiesta and once again much enjoyment was had by all due to the high standard of the student directed and produced performances. Cassia were the deserving recipients of the Year 7 'First Timers' award, with the Year 12 Cassia cohort doubling up on House joy by taking out the 'Last Timers' prize. Sophie Griffin repeated her success from last year, winning the 'WOW Award'. Kurrajong's dance moves saw them awarded the 'Hot Shoe Shuffle' trophy and Dianella were the overall winner of the St Catherine's Cup. Over $7,000 was raised from the stalls with all profits going to the Kopanang community.

Thank you to our Fiesta adjudicators who gave their time and expertise so willingly.

Acting: Trish O’Gorman has been a teacher of Performing Arts for the past thirty years (fifteen years at secondary level and a further fifteen in primary schools). She is a drama and music specialist who has written a number of school productions, performed in amateur theatre and appeared on Rockwiz. Her love of performing arts was fostered by her dad Kevin, a ventriloquist and radio announcer, and she continues to experience household drama on a daily basis as the mum of three teenagers.

Music: Sarah Clark has played and performed music for over twenty years in various ensembles. She loves playing the French Horn and frequently performs as part of the Knox Wind Symphony and the Australian Army Band Melbourne. Ms Clark also plays the trumpet, snare drum and tenor horn, but enjoys the French Horn the most.

Dance: Amber Hobson is the director of Glen Iris School of Dance and a graduate of The Australian Ballet School. She is an accomplished choreographer and has extensive experience in performance and teaching.

Siena College Sport has had a busy start to Term 2 with many Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams playing AFL, Netball, Water Polo, Aerobics, Cross Country and Hockey.

Siena College Sport has had a busy start to Term 2 with many senior, intermediate and junior teams playing AFL, Netball, Water Polo, Aerobics, Cross Country and Hockey. Parents and students are encouraged to check the Siena Central Sport Page for the latest information regarding training and fixtures. The link for the page can be found at the bottom of this article.

Term 3 Sport ‘sign ups’ have now closed. Sports on offer are Soccer, Five-a-Side Soccer, Volleyball, Athletics and Badminton. Trials will commence later this term and we are hoping to advise students of their teams in Week 1 of Term 3.

The Siena College House Athletics Carnival is on Thursday, 30 May at Tom Kelly Athletics Track. We have close to 500 girls signed up for events and we are looking forward to an exciting day at the track (and hopefully some sunshine!). All students will be transported to the track via bus from Siena College and will return by 3.16pm.

Please note that there will be Junior GSV Sport after the House Athletics Carnival has concluded on 30 May. We have made arrangements for girls participating in Junior Netball and Junior AFL to be transported from the Tom Kelly Athletics Track to their various sporting venues once the carnival has concluded. We will then bus students back to Siena College for a 5.30pm pick up.

Individual Achievements

Julia McLean (Year 7) participated in a Tennis tournament over three days during the Easter break. She won all of her singles matches and was the overall Under 13 Girls champion. Julia also filled in for the Women's Doubles Section B, finishing as runners up. Congratulations to Julia on this excellent achievement.

Generations in Jazz On the first weekend of May each year Siena takes its jazz ensembles to the Generations In Jazz Festival in Mount Gambier, South Australia.

Generations in Jazz Success

On the first weekend of May each year Siena takes its jazz ensembles to the Generations In Jazz Festival in Mount Gambier, South Australia. In the past it has been the two big bands, Sisters of Swing and the Siena College Stage Band. 2019 saw the introduction of our first a capella vocal ensemble, Canti Dolce.

In the lead up to the event the girls participated in workshops with guest artists and a performance at Genazzano FCJ College. These performances were complemented at the event by performances by international acts such as the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz ensemble, Kurt Elling, Joey DeFrancesco, Ricky Woodard and Liz Wright.

All the girls performed exceptionally well with Stage Band winning Division 3.2 and Canti Dolce in fifth place. Celina Maderski was again awarded a place in the Division 3 super band for her performance on baritone saxophone.

In light of their success, we welcomed Australian jazz legend, Steve Sedergreen in to work with the girls this week. Steve’s philosophy of deep listening, and connecting with each other and the meaning of the music resonated with the girls and is sure to spur them on to greater things in the future.

String Ensemble performances

The Senior String Ensemble and Folkus were delighted to perform at two events in the past week, an Open House fundraiser for CBM Australia on Thursday, 9 May and the Fordham Park reopening on Saturday, 11 May. Luckily the weather remained clear for both of these events, and audiences were treated to a variety of traditional folk and classical music from the ensembles. Our thanks to the students involved at these performances, and also to Ms Olivia Dandens and Ms Grace Gilkerson for accompanying the students during these performances.

I counted fifteen dead me working the deck of the Kingston. Well, they weren’t dead yet, but the day was young, and I had a full belt of shot. Anne Bonny was eighteen when she ran away from her brutal husband, James – and into the arms of pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. Now she’s ensconced aboard Jack’s ship Ranger, passing as a cabin boy. Playing her ruthless part in a crew that is raining down mayhem and murder on the ships of the Caribbean.

But James Bonny is willing to pay to get his ‘property’ back. And pirate hunter Captain Barnet is happy to take his money. The Ranger’s a fast ship: Anne might just be able to outrun Barnet. But can she outrun the consequences of her relationship with Calico Jack?

Promise Me Happy – Robert Newton

A new offering from local Melbourne author Robert Newton (including “Runner” and “When We Were Two”).

I don’t know if it’s possible for people to change, not really. The way you’re made up, the important stuff, I reckon you’re born with that. But when it matters, when it really matters, WE ARE WHO WE ARE.

Nate’s had it tough. An abusive father. His mother dead. He’s done things he regrets. But he’s never met anyone like Gem. She’s a tiny piece of wonderful and she’s changed everything he knows about himself. Is this the beginning of happiness? Or is there more hardship around the corner?

The Lost Man – Jane Harper (Senior Fiction – for staff and parents)

Three brothers, one death, a fence line stretching to the horizon. Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland.They are at the stockman’s grave, a landmark so old, no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family’s quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish.

Something had been troubling Cam. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn’t, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects…For readers who loved The Dry and Force of Nature, Jane Harper has once again created a powerful story of suspense, set against a dazzling landscape.

Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales (Senior Collection for staff and parents)

As a journalist, Leigh Sales often encounters people experiencing the worst moments of their lives in the full glare of the media. But one particular string of bad news stories- and a terrifying brush with her own mortality – sent her looking for answers about how vulnerable each of us is to a life-changing event. What are our chances of actually being struck by one? What do we fear most and why? And when the worst does happen, what comes next?

In this profound and layered book, Sales talks intimately with people who’ve faced the unimaginable, from terrorism to natural disasters to simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Expecting broken lives, she instead finds strength, hope even humour. Sales brilliantly condenses the latest research on the way the human brain processes fear and grief, and poses the questions we too often ignore out of awkwardness. Along the way, she offers an unguarded account of her own challenges and what she’s learned about coping with life’s unexpected blows.

Heartfelt, candid and empathetic, Any Ordinary Day is about what happens when ordinary people, on ordinary days, are forced to suddenly find the resilience most of us don’t know we have.

Many Siena students attended the recent VCE Career Expo at the Caulfield racecourse to visit, meet with tertiary representatives and gather information on courses, careers and employment....

Many Siena students attended the recent VCE Career Expo at the Caulfield racecourse to visit, meet with tertiary representatives and gather information on courses, careers and employment.

Bookings are now open for our annual Careers Showcase, a partnership between Siena Alumnae and our current students.

In this issue of Siena Careers News there is a reminder to students interested in studying Medicine to register for the UCAT, a flyer with dates of Course Information sessions at Deakin University (Criminology, Teaching, Art and Design), news on a new Bachelor of Innovation and Design at Swinburne and how can you study Neuroscience in a Health Science degree.

Students who are interested in studying in the UK can check out how secondary school students can study a subject at Cambridge University.

What’s the difference between Business and Commerce degrees? Have a look at the course matrices included!

Amelie Nikolovski, Amanda Marasco, Ruby Flynn, Isabella Biviano, Harriette La Motte and Isabella Boussioutas attended the St Vincent de Paul College Conference Day at Abbotsford Convent on 2 May. The conference is designed to bring together students from around Victoria. The girls were inspired to learn about the range of work that Vinnies does in the community. Beyond the op shops known to many of us are home visits, homework help, soup vans and kids camps. All of these services aim to work alongside those in need in our community and to work to ensure the dignity of each individual is preserved through acts of Service. The girls learnt about the philosophy which drives Vinnies, a 'hand up, not a hand out' and considered how they can work within the College to live out this philosophy and continue doing the 'good works' of Vinnies.

This term, another group of senior students will head out on 5 June to take part in the Vinnies Street Retreat. This is an opportunity for our students to see the work the Soup Van does each night in North Melbourne and to meet with some of the people Vinnies serves on a daily basis. As the weather is getting colder, we would like to provide additional warm clothing and blankets to those sleeping rough. Donations of scarves, beanies, socks, gloves, and blankets in addition to toiletry items such as soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner will be most gratefully received. Students can leave donations in Mrs. Ilott’s office.

Students wishing to be more actually involved in Vinnies can join the student volunteers who work in collaboration with St Dominic’s Parishioners to make sandwiches for the Vinnies Soup Van. Volunteers meet on a fortnightly basis at 7:45am on a Tuesday morning and fulfil one hour of Service before heading to school in time for Period 1. The girls enjoy the camaraderie of working together as a Siena team of mixed aged volunteers and develop an appreciation that the gift of their time will make to another person that night. Students should see Mrs Ilott if they would like more information about this opportunity for Service.

In preparation for their study of the novel Runner, Year 8 students made use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the Learning Centre to explore the streets of Richmond.

In preparation for their study of the novel Runner, Year 8 students made use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the Learning Centre to explore the streets of Richmond.

Runner, written by Robert Newton, is set in Richmond in the early 20th century and details the exploits of notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor. Although the technology can’t show what it looked like in Squizzy Taylor’s time, students were able to ‘walk’ down Darlington Parade where he lived, follow the protagonist Charlie’s run along Bridge Road and into the city, and visit some of the city laneways featured in the novel.

Students discussed how these settings impacted on the experiences of the characters and ultimately how the author used setting to depict the poverty and hardship experienced. By understanding the conditions of Richmond, students can also understand how a man like Squizzy Taylor became so influential and how he could be both celebrated and feared by the people in the local area.

This wasn’t just a chance to discuss the setting of the novel, but it was also a great opportunity for the students to experience how VR technology can help us to explore the world around us.

An ever growing group of students meet each week to discuss global environmental issues and to consider ways in which the College community can take small steps to demonstrate our commitm...

An ever growing group of students meet each week to discuss global environmental issues and to consider ways in which the College community can take small steps to demonstrate our commitment to caring for our local environment.

The Eco Warriors took some of their concerns to staff at a meeting on Wednesday morning. The students expressed their concerns regarding the volume of paper used by staff on a weekly basis and presented some alternative measures which could be implemented to reduce use of paper in the classroom. These included recommendations such as printing double sided sheets, printing only the copies needed – no extras, and not printing material where possible but using electronic copies instead. Staff were also encouraged to reuse paper where possible.

Also of concern to the group is the amount of rubbish left around the yard after recess and lunch times. All students are encouraged to consider the ways in which they can express their concern for the environment through their own small actions, such as respectfully putting rubbish in the bin and limiting the amount of waste generated through the use of Nude Food, rather than single use plastic packaging.

With Environment Week coming up in June, the Eco Warriors will be looking to raise awareness amongst the College Community about how one person can make a difference every day through the choices they make.

On Wednesday students in House Groups acknowledged Fairtrade Day. Girls were involved in discussions about what Fairtrade is, why it is important and how they, through their choices as consumers, can make a difference.

Fairtrade provides a fair price to farmers who grow the things we love, covering the cost of sustainable production and an additional sum of money to invest in community or business projects.

Fairtrade is good for the environment - Fairtrade supports sustainable farming practices which helps to minimise our environmental footprint.

Fairtrade is safe - Fairtrade has standards that protect workers rights and promote good health and safety practices.

Fairtrade supports communities. By working through cooperative structures, Fairtrade farmers and workers are able to invest Fairtrade earnings in their communities, improving housing, healthcare, and schools.

Market access and fairer trade - Fairtrade is about doing trade differently. It empowers farmers and workers to take control of their lives, businesses and communities through trade. Fairtrade also enables businesses – and through them, consumers – to understand the whole supply chain because it is tracked from producer to buyer.

Fairtrade promotes gender equality - Fairtrade believes the role of women in agriculture needs more visibility, recognition and value, and that gender equity is important to social sustainability.

Fairtrade is about quality and productivity - Supporting farmers to improve the amount of crop they produce and its quality are important for sustainable livelihoods. It means farmers can earn more from what they produce to become more economically stable and more reliable suppliers.

Fairtrade means what you buy matters - By choosing Fairtrade products, you are not only accessing high quality products, you are making a difference in the lives of the people who grow the food you eat and the goods you use.

Fairtrade sets standards - Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards that are set for both companies and the farmers and workers who grow the food we love. For farmers and workers the standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, for companies they include the payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price .

Fairtrade supports farmers to implement climate change adaptation measures. The Fairtrade Standards promote sustainable development through best agricultural practices, which not only guide producers to adapt to climate change, but also encourage them to mitigate their impact.

'Speak, even if your voice shakes' was the message 14 year old Amy 'Dolly' Everett left behind in January 2018, when she took her own life after becoming a victim of ongoing cyberbullying...

'Speak, even if your voice shakes' was the message fourteen year old Amy “Dolly” Everett left behind in January 2018, when she took her own life after becoming a victim of ongoing cyberbullying. Online bullying can have a devastating impact on young people, whose online life is a key part of their identity and how they interact socially.

On Friday 10 May, our students stood together against bullying, making kindness the norm at our school, on the inaugural 'Do It For Dolly Day'. Our Year 12 House Captains handed out twenty five small gifts as an act of kindness, encouraging all girls who received a gift at random to pay that kindness message forward to the next person.

Kindness can make people shine, whether you’re the person giving or receiving a kind gesture. A kind gesture has an immense transformative power, it can turn a negative experience into a positive one, build trust and promote forgiveness.

French Exchange

Emily, Madeleine and Emilia of Year 11 will share their experience of the cultural exchange to France. They had the opportunity to spend five weeks with host families, attend school in Lille and immerse themselves in the French language.

On 8 December 2018, the three of us left for the unique and rewarding experience of French exchange for five weeks in the city of Lille. We welcomed the French students last year in June/July which was a very memorable experience being able to share our culture and routines with our French parallels. In France, we attended school each week day from 8:10am-5:30pm and had the option to eat lunch outside of school or have the canteen food. Classrooms weren’t very dissimilar to Australia, however, the school was coeducational, and free dress was allowed. Partaking in regular excursions, we discovered the city of Lille with the other French exchange members – including visiting the Australian War Memorial, Swimming Pool Museum, a nougat factory and the belfry of the town hall.

Going on this trip was life changing, we:

• Improved our vocabulary, confidence in speaking and listening comprehension skills• Were immersed in French life and culture • Created international contacts – a French family for life• Travelled around France (Paris, Mont St Michel, Sud de France, La Sein and famous monuments) and other parts of Europe, including, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium• Ate French cuisine • Learnt about the French schooling system• Shopped • Spent a wonderful Christmas and New Years with our exchange family

French exchange was a truly enriching experience and is recommended for any student studying French who enjoys the subject and is interested in broadening their understanding of France, the culture and the language. If you are considering going on French exchange, we highly suggest that you take this rare opportunity and go!

As we commence the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2021, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensur...

As we commence the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2021, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolments can be submitted via our website.

Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to attend our after school Home Learning Club. This is a valuable opportunity for students to receive some assistance with their home learning.

Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to attend our after school Home Learning Club. This is a valuable opportunity for students to receive some assistance with their home learning.

The program will operate each Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30 pm in the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre classroom. A staff member from the Learning Enhancement Department will supervise the program and will provide support as needed to students as they work on home learning tasks. An attendance roll will be taken at each session and students will be required to sign in and out of each session.

If you would like your daughter to attend these weekly sessions, please complete the Expression of Interest form and email to ahanrahan@siena.vic.edu.au A Care Monkey permission form will then be sent to you to complete.

“Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.” St Catherine of Siena

“Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.” - St Catherine of Siena

It is the Easter season, the most significant time on the Christian calendar and for all of us at Siena College, it is the week of St Catherine’s Day, officially celebrated on 29 April. The Feast of our College Patron, St Catherine of Siena, is always a very special day of prayer, community, outreach to others in the Solomon Islands, and some fun with our traditional Fiesta.

This week has also been a time of remembering the Jewish holocaust where six million Jews were put to death in Europe in the second world war. On Monday evening Siena College was privileged to host a Christian memorial service in memory of this appalling time in the world’s history.

I was moved by an article written by Gemma Di Bari who teaches at Siena College, that was published recently in The Age newspaper. Gemma was inspired to write after an excursion last term with some of our students.

“Like the writer’s pen and the sculptor’s chisel, experiences and stories fashion who we become. At the entrance of Siena College stands a statue of St Catherine. The plaque reads that she 'walked amid chaos and was a force to be reckoned with'.

At the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick, to an audience of young female students, Sarah Saaroni, aged 93, spoke in a gentle voice but with the conviction of her beliefs, that one must not hate but rather seek to understand what can happen when we do not fight for what is right. She spoke also of the importance of sharing our stories through the spoken and written word and through one’s art.

Catherine of Siena was a woman who walked boldly into situations knowing that she would be opposed, but she had a firm belief that she had to use her voice to bring justice to unjust situations. At fifteen she joined the Dominican sisters as a lay woman, she wrote letters, convinced the Pope to return to Rome from Avignon, and lived her life dedicated to the pursuit of truth.

Also as a fifteen year old, Sarah walked amid chaos, witnessed atrocities and used every inch of strength to survive on her own without any family members. She considers it her duty to speak of her life in Poland as a young Jewish woman at the start of World War II, so a younger generation can learn. Sarah spoke about her fear, which walked with her at every turn as she dodged soldiers and anyone who threatened her survival.

Catherine’s letters written more than six hundred years ago influenced the political and religious men who governed with absolute power. She did not shy away from issues but rather was motivated with zeal and tenacity to call for change. Catherine’s predisposition for endurance meant she allowed no one to intimidate her to leave the path she was on.

In 1981 at the age of 55, Sarah began working with clay, first as a potter then as a sculptor. Many of her works now grace the rooms at the Jewish Holocaust Centre where they tell the story of the Jewish experience during the horrors inflicted on her people. All her statues are poignant but one stands out. It’s of Dr Janusz Korczak, who attempted to save orphans from the Warsaw ghetto. When German soldiers came to collect children from the orphanage, Korczak refused the sanctuary he was offered, saying that he could not abandon “his children”.

What was their message? Become the sculptor of your life. Speak wisely, act courageously and contribute to your world.”

Sadly, these past weeks have shown that we have not learned well from the pages of history. We have seen people killed in places of worship, Moslems praying in the mosque in Christchurch, Christians in Sri Lanka in revenge attacks and tragically at this time of remembering the holocaust, Jews in their synagogue in California; people killed because of their religion or race, atrocities committed out of prejudice and hatred and fear of difference.

We all have great capacity for goodness and kindness and when we get to know others who are different from us, we no longer fear them.

Over the break, I had the privilege of travelling to Italy with twenty-three lovely Siena girls and my colleagues, Tina Di Camillo and Anthony Vadala. It was approaching Easter and we visited many churches, amongst them a most extraordinary twelfth century church beneath which excavations have revealed a fourth century church, and below that a first century church, a Roman house and a pagan temple. Visiting San Clemente is like walking through the centuries of Rome’s history.

In this Church is the most beautiful mosaic crucifix I have ever seen and one which for me was about the message of Easter, about the new life we are invited to and the peace and harmony we can bring to the world, each in our own small way. It is a call to us to listen to the views of others and to embrace diversity and be enriched rather than diminished by fear of difference. It is ablaze with a golden background and beautiful colours. Peace emanates from the face of Jesus and the cross is growing as a tree with water below. It is a tree of life with a rich network of branches that spread across the dome like a large vineyard. Between the shoots in amongst the coils there are shepherds and peasants and animals and people of all kinds. The hand of God reaches down from above to bring the world life and reconciliation.

Pope Francis reminds us that our joy in the risen Jesus, the Easter Jesus, is to a quiet call to love and service. May our Siena community always be a place of kindness and compassion, inclusion and respect. May we flourish amidst diversity and be enriched by our differences

It is lovely to share the following news with our community:

Grace Power has been recognised for her outstanding achievements in VCE Health and Human Development in 2018 via a Premier’s Award. This is also a tribute to the excellent teaching and mentoring of Anne Rice. Congratulations to Grace and Anne. We are very proud of them both.

College Business Manager, Tony Grant and Assistant Business Manager, Mark Baldasso graduated this week with an MBAE, a Masters of Business Administration (Executive), conferred by the Australian Catholic University. They have invested many hours in study and lectures over the past three years and this is a significant achievement.

Deputy Principal Bernadette Donnelly is the recipient of the 2020 Principals Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) Memorial Leadership Scholarship. It is awarded annually to a leading educator in a Victorian Catholic Secondary School who shows outstanding leadership capacity in a particular field in his/her school, has strengthened his/her own leadership capacity through study or project involvement and contributed to the broader dimension of Catholic Education through membership of committees and organizations. The Scholarship provides $5,000 towards participation in a recognized Leadership Program and towards accommodation and air fares. This is well deserved recognition of Bernadette’s outstanding leadership of learning and teaching.

Sarah Clark from our Music Department was chosen to play the Last Post at the Anzac Day Rugby League Game. Once again, this is a great honour and a great credit to Sarah’s musicianship and service in the Army Reserve.

I extend our warmest wishes to Kerryn McGillen and all our musicians who are travelling to Generations in Jazz this weekend in Warrnambool. I know they will do the College proud.

It was lovely to welcome mothers and daughters of generational families to a gathering in the Heritage Centre. The memorabilia there attracted much attention including the old uniforms on display.

Thank you to all who attended the Board and Community Night in the Susan Alberti Auditorium. We are so appreciative of the wonderful support and encouragement we receive from the Siena community. At this event, Mr Sean McGing announced that he will conclude his time as Board Chair at the forthcoming AGM. Sean’s outstanding commitment to this College over many years will be acknowledged as he passes the baton to incoming Chair Kath McCarthy. We are grateful to Kath for taking on this role in the future.

Siena in the City Parent Showcase Evening, Examinations, Staff Profile

Siena in the City Parent Showcase Evening

Year 9 students will present their Siena in the City group findings at the Parent Showcase on Wednesday, 8 May. The evening will take place in the St Catherine Centre and will commence at 7.00pm and conclude at 8.00pm. We look forward to hearing about the excellent learning that took place during Activities Week.

Semester 1 Examinations

Parents, guardians and students will receive a letter in early May with more information regarding the examination period and timetable. Students should also be speaking to their subject teachers so that they are confident about the content to be covered and the best revision strategies to utilise. Year 9 to 11 revision materials will be released on 29 May. Year 9 and 10 students will also engage in examination revision strategies during Pastoral on 6 June.

The Year 9 to 11 Semester 1 examinations will commence on 17 June and conclude on 21 June. The GAT will take place on 12 June. Please note that there will be no Year 11 nor 12 classes on 12 June.

New Staff Profile

Ms Jennifer Casey is standing in for Mr Neil Thomas this semester, while he enjoys travelling during his long service leave. Jennifer is teaching English, History and Geography to Years 7 to 9 students. Previously from St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, an all boys college, she is enjoying the different challenges and joys presented at a girls school. Jennifer has a keen interest in politics and social justice.

Marking St Catherine’s Day

On Friday April 26 our College Feast Day commenced with a beautiful celebration of the Eucharist at St Dominic’s Church attended by all members of the school community. We gathered in the spirit of Easter to hear readings describing the attributes of the early Christian community and Jesus’ post-resurrection message of hope. We are grateful to Fr Kevin Toomey OP for celebrating the Eucharist with us, as well as staff and students who carried out liturgical roles or who contributed to the planning phase of the Eucharist.

Sr Sheila Flynn OP writes:

When everything in the world around her was in chaos, in the church, in the market place, in government, Catherine of Siena always stood up for the truth. She had the conviction that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, God’s spirit of mercy is at work in our world and in our lives empowering us to be ministers of compassion and healing.

Christian Holocaust Memorial Service

Each year a school in the Christian tradition is invited to host this service - Siena is privileged to have been chosen for 2019. On the evening of Monday, April 29 Christians and Jews gathered as one in the Susan Alberti Auditorium to remember the tragedy of the Shoah and to say ‘Never again’. Senior student Hayley Di Stefano lead the service, while Teagan Matthews provided a voice for the future; members of the College Choir provided a hauntingly beautiful vocal backdrop to the solemn occasion.

Susan McLean at Siena College, a reminder on College Uniform Guidelines

Susan McLean at Siena College

Responding to parent and student concerns about cyber safety can be very challenging in this day and age. Our students have been born into an online world and we, together with parents, have a responsibility to guide young people through this space as safely as possible. Earlier in the year, Year 7 parents heard from Dr Katie Wood about applying realistic expectations around the use of devices and balancing this with some green time. In Year 7 Skills classes, these ideas were developed further with students.

Year 8 and 9 students had the pleasure of welcoming Susan McLean to Siena College for the first time. Her presentation on Respect and Responsibility was straight to the point. The session was delivered with clarity and humour and challenged all students to stop and think about what they do online and what the consequences might be for them not only today but for the rest of their lives. She recounted episodes from her extensive experience in this space, from her first report of cyberbullying in 1994 to her training with the FBI, her visit to Facebook’s HQ and her work with elite sports clubs and other organisations. She is the most highly qualified Federal Government eSafety certified educator.

As part of our ongoing education of students in this sphere, Year 9 students have also participated in a Brainstorm production of Verbal Combat that explores online bullying and these issues have also been raised in classes. A key message for students is to report any issues that impact their safety and to speak openly with parents about what is happening to them.

Parent responses to offering Ms McLean’s presentation at the College have been very supportive. Here are just a few:

“I think this presentation is an absolutely fabulous idea and wish to extend my thanks for arranging this. Raising teenage kids is hard enough as it is, but when you throw technology in the mix, it becomes incredibly complicated and challenging…I consider pastoral care equally as important as their academics, and so support Siena in continuing to guide and inform the girls of many other social issues too…”

“Thank you - so very valuable in this era. Really do appreciate the effort put in by the school to address this with such amazing experts.”

If you would like some extra information on cyber-safety, please go onto our School TV page and explore some of the resources.

Uniform Standard Guidelines

Siena College adheres to Restorative Practices in managing issues regarding students in the hope that students will understand the vital role they play in the community. It is an expectation that all students are well groomed and in correct uniform at all times. When this does not occur, the following process will be followed. It allows students ample opportunity to address any uniform issues and take responsibility for their actions. Please refer to the attached Uniform Standards flowchart for further clarification:

On Wednesday, 12 June at 10am, the General Achievement Test (GAT) 2019 will be conducted for all Victorian Year 12 students and Year 11s who undertake a VCE Unit 3/4 (Year 12) subject.

On Wednesday, 12 June at 10am, the General Achievement Test (GAT) 2019 will be conducted for all Victorian Year 12 students and Year 11s who undertake a VCE Unit 3/4 (Year 12) subject. This absolutely crucial test is used as an assessment and moderation tool by VCAA in tandem with the final examinations and the various school based results and rankings. It is effectively a vital insurance policy taken by students to ensure that their better results are preserved, especially should some unusual or unfortunate circumstances occur. All students need to provide their very best efforts so that the GAT can work as much as possible in their favour when required.

Accordingly, we will conduct an Information Session and Practice GAT during classes on Friday, 10 May. As an aptitude test, the GAT requires no formal study but practising the writing task skills is a very beneficial preparation for the day. It is externally marked and feedback reported to the girls to maximise the opportunity.

We look forward to marking these important steps in your daughters’ VCE journeys.

Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing at Year 7 and 9 will take place on 15, 16 and 17 May. Parents, guardians and students will have received letters outlining the schedule and the materials required for the tests. Further details are available from the NAPLAN website https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site. All students have been given the opportunity to complete the NAPLAN Online Practice Test and further familiarisation with the online requirements will take place in English and Mathematics classes prior to the test week.

To facilitate online testing, all students in Years 7 and 9 are required to supply the following to complete each test:

• their own iPad with the minimum requirements of iPad Air and above with minimum operating system iOS 10.3.3• students in Year 9 may use a BYOD Laptop/MacBook if they no longer have access to an iPad.(PC with operating system of either Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or Mac with operating system minimum OS X 10.9)• their own headphones, earphones or earbuds• all BYODs must be fully charged at home prior to undertaking any NAPLAN tests

The Naplan schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, 15 May

Thursday, 16 May

Friday, 17 May

Periods 1 and 2

Year 9 Writing Test

Year 7 Reading Test

Year 7 Numeracy Test

Periods 3 and 4

Year 7 Writing Test

Year 9 Conventions of Language Test

Year 9 Numeracy Test

Periods 5 and 6

Year 9 Reading Test

Year 7 Conventions of Language Test

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Parents and guardians will receive their individual child results as soon as they become available, usually in September.

Action Research

This year, we continue embedding our Learning Framework and building upon our 2018 Action Research, incorporating staff recommendations in developing the Siena Pedagogical Model. Referencing evidence based practice, all teaching staff have formed Professional Learning Teams to investigate the strategies that build upon successful lesson delivery to enhance student learning. The purpose of this approach is to provide opportunity for staff to work together collaboratively, across faculties to investigate, trial, analyse, evaluate and finally to determine a lesson structure particular to Siena and our learners.

Student voice will be sought around approaches and activities that best support learning within the classroom environment. This may be in the form of a survey or other methods within the classroom. Students are encouraged to communicate to their teacher what assists them to learn throughout the flow of a lesson. This is a year long process and parents are invited to engage with their daughter regarding how lesson structure can best facilitate her learning. Assisting students to understand and articulate their learning gives them greater agency over their learning and furthers their ability to understand where growth is possible.

Our South African Immersion group departed in the final week of Term 1.

Our South African Immersion group departed in the final week of Term 1. As a group, we had spent many hours preparing for the experience throughout the term. We learnt about the history and politics of South Africa, the origins of the Kopanang Project, the impact of HIV and AIDS on the people of Africa and the community with whom we would be staying. We planned lessons for the creche and for tutoring and sorted through donations of clothing, sanitary products, stationary supplies, bubbles and sporting equipment. We tried to imagine what our ten days living in Tsakane would be like.

While the preparation for the immersion is vital, in reality there is no way to adequately prepare for what this experience will be and there are no adequate words to convey how such an experience will impact upon the participants. When you arrive at the Kopanang Project you are embraced by a community which exudes love. A joyful, faithful, resilient group of women who have lived lives of sorrow, sickness, loss, grief and who continue to live lives of poverty and deprivation. These women embrace the Siena community. They call us their daughters, their sisters and brothers. They love us, care for us, pray for us. They laugh with us and teach us and consequently, our lives are forever changed.

Our daily life 'at the project' consisted of working in the creche which operates alongside Kopanang, assisting in the kitchen to prepare meals for the creche and additionally for a local feeding program which services up to one hundred orphans in the community, providing them with a daily nutritious meal . We also worked alongside the Kopanang women providing them with computer training. We spent an afternoon at a local high school in dialogue with the students about our lives, our hopes and our dreams for the future.

Our time in the township was balanced with opportunities to deepen our understanding about the history and culture of South Africa. We visited Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum, toured Constitution Hill and the High Court. We visited prisons where political prisoners were held throughout the Apartheid period. We travelled to Soweto to see where the Student Uprising of 1976 had taken place and visited the Regina Mundi Church, a place of refuge for Anti Apartheid activists. Additionally, we spent a day at the Pilanesberg Game Park and marvelled at the magnificence of Africa’s animal kingdom. We were privileged to spend an afternoon in the studio of South African artist, Mandy Conidaris, who helped us to express our South African experiences in an artistic form.

As with our arrival, our Kopanang family farewelled us with song. Memories of our time in Tsakane frequently drift into our daily lives at Siena. It will not be forgotten. It is important that we continue to pray for and support this community with whom we share such a special relationship.

'For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others'.Nelson Mandela

News from the Learning Centre

Term 1 was an exciting time in the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre with new initiatives launched, new resources purchased and new partnerships formed. Lunchtimes throughout the week were used to offer an array of activities to cater for a wide variety of student needs and interests. We introduced Gaming, the Art Club and became the permanent venue for weekly SRC meetings. The student run Anime Club continued to operate and regular craft activities were held. In Term 2, in addition to these activities, we are launching a student facilitated Current Affairs Group and moving the Craft Club to Tuesday afternoons after school to provide more time for craft activities.

Learning Centre staff enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with the Year 7 Religion teachers and their classes to build a Wall of Compassion – a visual representation of each classes’ engagement with one of the stories from Caritas’ “Project Compassion” which runs throughout the season of Lent. This activity provided us all with the opportunity to meaningfully engage in the Project Compassion profiles and to deepen our understanding of the work that Caritas does throughout the world. We are looking forward to ongoing collaboration with other faculty areas to enhance the learning experiences of our students in the Learning Centre.

Many new resources, including a wide range of Young Adult Fiction, were purchased ensuring that there is a constant supply of new and contemporary literature for our students. As always, students are encouraged to recommend texts they would like purchased in order for our library to meet the interests of our student population. Students are also reminded of the magazine subscriptions we have in the Learning Centre and are encouraged to borrow these. We also have a digital library which enables students to borrow a vast range of eBooks.

As the term progresses, we look forward to providing more information about the range of activities taking place in the Learning Centre.

New Arrivals - Young Adult Fiction

Aurora Rising (Aurora Cycle 0.1) – Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

From the authors of the popular Illuminae Files trilogy, comes a new Sci-Fi series. The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch:

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm. A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates.A smart-alec tech-whiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder.An alien warrior with anger management issues.A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into her squad leader, in case you were wondering.

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem – that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

NOBODY PANIC.

Half Moon Lake – Kirsten Alexander

In 1913, on a summer’s day at Half Moon Lake, Louisiana, four-year-old Sonny Davenport walks into the woods and never returns.

The boy’s mysterious disappearance from the family’s lake house makes front-page news in their home town of Opelousas. John Henry and Mary Davenport are wealthy and influential, and will do anything to find their son. For two years, the Davenports search across the South, offer increasingly large rewards and struggle not to get in to despair. Then, at the moment when all hope seems lost, the boy is found in the company of a tramp.

But is he truly Sonny Davenport? The circumstances of his discovery raise more questions than answers. And when Grace Mill, an unwed farm worker, travels from Alabama to lay claim to the child, newspapers, townsfolk, even the Davenport’s own friends, take sides.

As the tramp’s kidnapping trial begins, and two desperate mothers fight for ownership of the boy, the people of Opelousas discover that the truth is more complicated than they’d ever dreamed. Inspired by a true story, Half Moon Lake is a captivating novel about the parent-child bond, identity, and what it means to be part of a family.

Into the Fire – Sonia Orchard

A year after her best friend died in a house fire, Lara can’t come to terms with the loss.Logic says there was no more she could have done to save the mercurial and unhappy Alice, but Lawa can’t escape the feeling that she is somehow to blame for the tragedy.

She spends a weekend at the rebuilt house with Alice’s charismatic widower, Crow, and his three young children.Rummaging through the remains of their shared past, Lara reveals a friendship with Alice that was as troubled as it was intense.But beneath the surface is a darker, more unsettling secret waiting to be exposed.

Through exquisite prose and searing insight, Into the Fire explores the many ways, small and large, we betray one another and our ideals.It’s a compelling story about power, guilt and womanhood from an outstanding voice in Australian fiction.

Shauna’s Great Expectations – Kathleen Loughnan

Just in time for National Reconciliation Day, comes a new #LoveOZYA book. Shauna is in her final year at an elite private school and has great expectations. She holds an Indigenous scholarship and is determined to be the first member of her family to go to University, no matter what. The year is off to an excellent start, and she and her friends are dreaming big about life after school and a trip to Paris.

But suddenly she’s faced with a choice that threatens to throw all her plans into disarray. As pressure builds from every corner of her world, Shauna wonders what she’ll have to sacrifice to keep hold of her dreams… Can she fulfil her own promise and still keep her promises to others? Will her expectations be ripped away?

The term has begun well for students in the Mathematics Faculty. Classes are taking part in a variety of activities and some of our Year 12 students are currently involved in their first ...

The term has begun well for students in the Mathematics Faculty. Classes are taking part in a variety of activities and some of our Year 12 students are currently involved in their first SACs. Year 7 students are consolidating and extended their fraction skills, Year 8 students are looking at Measurement as can be seen in the images below where circle ideas are being investigated and explored. Year 9 students are looking at Linear Graphs and Equations, Year 10 and 11 students are studying a variety of topic areas.

Mathematics help continues this term and many girls are availing themselves of the opportunity of receiving some extra support with areas of need in a variety of topics. There will be several opportunities to become involved in competitions and incursions this and next term. We continue to encourage our students to seek help from their teachers when they experience any difficulty as this is a very important part of the study process.

We have a large number of girls (approximately 350 students) signed up to Term 2 GSV sports with netball, AFL, cross country, water polo and hockey on offer this term. Training and matche...

We have a large number of girls (approximately 350 students) signed up to Term 2 GSV sports with netball, AFL, cross country, water polo and hockey on offer this term. Training and matches will commence this week for Intermediate and Senior levels and next week for Junior levels. I would like to thank all the sports staff including parent volunteers for their assistance this term, it really is much appreciated.

Congratulations to the following Term 1 GSV Finalists:

Junior Tennis - Quarter Final

Senior A Indoor Cricket- Champions

Senior B Indoor Cricket- Champions

Intermediate B Indoor Cricket- Runners up

Other sporting news:

Aerobics is off to a great start with several upcoming events this term, culminating in the National AeroSchools on the Gold Coast again in 2019.

The Siena College House Athletics Carnival is on Thursday, 30 May 2019 at the Tom Kelly Athletics Track. Students are currently signing up for events and House Captains will be allocating them shortly.

We are keen to recognise students’ sporting achievements outside of school. If your daughter has participated in a sport outside of GSV and has achieved significant success please email sport@siena.vic.edu.au (photos are also greatly appreciated).

Congratulations to Jaimie Guan who went to Sydney to compete in two tournaments over the holidays; the School Age Championship and the Australian Open Karate Competition. These were her first international fights and she participated against New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia. She came third in both competitions. We wish Jaimie the best of luck for Nationals which will be held in Tasmania this August.

On Wednesday, 3 April the Year 7 cohort and several staff members travelled to Camp Rumbug in South Gippsland.

On Wednesday, 3 April the Year 7 cohort and several staff members travelled to Camp Rumbug in South Gippsland. The camp provided the students with opportunities to meet girls from different houses and point groups, to continue to build their connection to the Siena Community. They participated in a range of activities that challenged them both physically and mentally, building their ability to problem solve and improving their resilience and stamina. It was a most pleasant experience and we are very grateful to the staff who accompanied the students to camp. We are especially thankful for the work that Ms. Georgie Plasto and Mrs. Natalie Kinsella contributed to the overall organisation of the camp.

“At Camp Rumbug we had lots of fun participating in different activities and making new friends, it was nice to see everyone encouraging each other do their best. My favourite activity was tree climbing, even though it pushed me out of my comfort zone. It was lots of fun and I enjoyed challenging myself. This camp was a very different experience to Primary School because I didn’t know everyone, but by the end of it I had made new friends. It was a great way to end Term 1”.Roxanne Champion

“On 3 April, the Year 7 students set off for Camp Rumbug. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and nervousness, but we all knew that we were going to have an amazing and adventurous three days ahead. I was excited for all the memories I was going to make and nervous about some of the challenges, one being the giant swing. When it was time for my group to participate in the Giant Swing I wasn’t sure if I would do it or not. Through my groups encouragement I worked up the courage to face my fear of heights and completed the activity. It was amazing, everyone was very supportive and I was so proud of myself. I had a great time at camp and enjoyed the opportunity to meet new girls and make new friends”.Grace McPhee

The latest issue of Siena Career News is jam packed with information and activities that are sure to stimulate discussion and assist students with gathering information on potential terti...

The latest issue of Siena Career News is jam packed with information and activities that are sure to stimulate discussion and assist students with gathering information on potential tertiary courses and future careers. There is absolutely no excuse not to attend at least one of the amazing activities scheduled for May and June!

Some of these include:

·VCE Careers Expo – on again at the Caulfield Racecourse this weekend. A fantastic expo with many tertiary organisations present, Defence Force, Police, private institutions. Take a friend and gather as much information as you can from all of the stands. Representatives are on hand to answer questions.

·Law Week Activities in May – if you have a budding lawyer in the family there are many events that are relevant and can help paint a picture of what careers in Law are really like.

·For parents of students in Years 10 -12 the Northern Metro TIS (Tertiary Information Service) event at Latrobe University is well worth attending. You will have the opportunity to research study options, tertiary courses and chat to Uni, TAFE and private college representatives.

·Bond University scholarships- this beautiful university on the Gold Coast is a private institution, there are no Commonwealth Supported Places available in courses. Scholarships can make attending a lot more affordable.

·University of Melbourne “My Future” series of course information sessions are planned for June/July.

·Studying in the UK and USA info sessions – many students are expressing interest in studying overseas. These Info sessions are a great way of gathering information.

·For Year 12’s the Community Achievers Program opens at ACU – an application detailing your leadership and community service experience could potentially get you into Law and Physiotherapy with ATAR around 70!

·Focus on Biomed – what can you do, other than medicine, after studying this?

Also, just a reminder to Save the Date for our annual Siena Careers Showcase on Thursday 13 June – more information will follow!

Heide Museum of Modern Art and William Mora Galleries.

Late in Term 1, the Year 11 and 12 Studio Arts students, Sr Shelia Flynn and myself spent time at Heide Museum viewing the Mirka Mora – PAS DE DEUX - Drawings and Dolls exhibition. Following this, we were then fortunate to enjoy the gallery space and presence of William and Anna Mora who shared their stories of Mirka. William spoke of his childhood with his vibrant mother as a prolific artist and how she 'loved to inspire people'. He spoke of Mirka cutting up bed sheets to make her textile doll works and how she disliked deciding on titles for her work, so this responsibility fell to William. He put Mirka’s subject matter into a context with explaining why she often morphed animals and humans as she saw the 'same values in animals as in humans'. Students learnt about Mirka’s experience as a child in World War 2 and how the loss of childhood shaped her studio practice and influenced the aesthetic and style that became unique to her. It was explained that 'she had survived the Holocaust but lost her childhood, so Australia represented a new beginning which translated into this incredible zest for life. She wasn't going to miss a moment.' The visit to ‘William Mora’s Galleries’ provided our students with a first-hand insight into the life of Mirka Mora as relayed by her family and the chance to know her on a more personal and intimate level that what would not be possible through simply researching on the internet. Through this excursion Mirka Mora became a ‘real person’ and a familiar figure in the eyes of the girls which can only assist in expanding their understanding of her art practices as they collate information on her as the contemporary artist studied this semester.

The PAS DE DEUX – Drawings and Dolls exhibition at Heide (which translates to ‘a dance for two people’) provided the girls with the opportunity to study the varied artforms that Mirka explored, such as drawing, painting, embroidery and soft sculpture. The extensive exhibition of 409 artworks was a stunning and overwhelming testament to her work ethic, her creativity and passion for producing art and drawing inspiration from the world around her. Kendra Morgan, one of the exhibition curators spoke of the decision making in the exhibition design, promotion and marketing considerations and the joy in gathering artworks from an artist who has enjoyed a long and successfully relationship with the gallery.

In Studio Arts, students are to complete research on historical and contemporary artists and there is great value in seeing the artworks in gallery spaces and being able to spend time studying the imagery and considering the materials used in the construction with the work presented before their eyes. An appreciation of and exposure to wonderful art was enjoyed on that Thursday in March by students and staff alike.

Student reflectionsIn Florence, we were able to experience going to a language school for five days. It was for three and a half hours each day and we were only allowed to speak Italian ...

Student reflections

In Florence, we were able to experience going to a language school for five days. It was for three and a half hours each day and we were only allowed to speak Italian and write in Italian. The year 11s were split into a different class with Michele as their teacher, and the year 10s had Daniele. Of course it was tough at first, but we were able to adjust pretty quickly and learn so many new things. During classes at Siena, we learn a lot of grammatical language so when overseas and continuously speaking Italian we were able to learn the correct way to speak formally and informally, as well as in different tenses. It was an amazing experience and I will never forget it. Anna Griss

Over our time in Italy, we went to school in Florence. It was a very fun and enjoyable time with our teacher Daniele. Throughout our days in school, we learnt a lot more Italian grammar and we improved on our speaking, as our teacher didn’t speak to us in English.Alessia Di Donato

Due to the fact that we were only spoken to in Italian by our teachers, we really improved our listening and understanding skills. We were able to broaden our knowledge of different vocabulary on a variety of different subjects. We all loved the time that we spent at school in Florence, and we thought that it was a wonderful once in a lifetime learning opportunity. Molly O’Farrell

At language school, we learnt a lot more conversation as our teacher, Daniele, was only speaking Italian. I really enjoyed playing lots of Italian games while also incorporating the language into it, meaning we were learning but in a fun way.Olivia Efthimiou

In Italy, when we first arrived, it was very overwhelming at first to hear only Italian. It took us a few days to fully get the flow of how to respond and ask questions when ordering food or buying clothes at the local shops. Our Italian had improved by the end because we were learning new ways to have a basic conversation with someone, and felt more confident with our Italian.Julia Bendinelli

While in Italy we were expected to speak as much Italian as we could: ordering food, purchasing things and just talking to anyone in general. I personally found ordering food in Italian pretty easy, although the server always replied in English! In the smaller cities where there weren’t many tourists it was harder to communicate because we couldn’t simply ask ‘parla inglese?’ if they didn’t understand our Italian. Overall, I now know many more phrases and can fluently order a pizza in Italian.Stella Zavattieri

WOW the food in Italy is amazing! Every night we went out for dinner and had a delicious meal. Most of us either had gnocchi, spaghetti or pizza. The pizza in Australia is nothing compared to the pizza in Italy. It had a thin base with lots of toppings and a puffed crust that tasted amazing. Seeing as though food in Italy seems pretty cheap, we all got a three course meal which usually started off with getting bruschetta as entree (toasted bread topped with chopped tomatoes, oregano and salt and pepper). It was then followed by main course and then a traditional dessert. During the day, at lunch time, we were free to roam and explore with friends. We usually had a panino, after lunch most of us went and got an ice-cream which I think was everyone’s favourite time of day. I can’t even begin to tell how amazing the sorbet and ice-cream was, and how many different flavors there were to choose from.Siena Butyn

On Tuesday, 30 April the College held its first Board and Community Night in the St Catherine Centre.

On Tuesday, 30 April the College held its first Board and Community Night in the St Catherine Centre.Siena College Board, Risk, Finance and Policy Committee Members were represented, along with the Siena Parents’ Association and Alumnae Association.

Mrs Robson-Garth and Mr Sean McGing (Board Chair) provided an outline of the governance structure of the College and each Committee Chair or President gave a briefing on the activities of their Committee.

The Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2023 was introduced and parents wishing to view the Strategic Plan may do so via the College Website. An update was also provided on the new Principal appointment process, which is now well underway with the Board hoping to make an announcement by August.

The evening provided an opportunity for parents to mingle informally with Board and Committee members to learn more about the College and its operations and given the success of the evening, we hope to have this as an annual event on our calendar.

Student Reflection

On the last week of Term 1, I had the opportunity to participate in a week long architecture experience with eleven other Siena students. On the first day of the course we travelled to the Williams Ross Architect offices in Fitzroy and met Amanda and Robbie who explained to us what an architect’s role is and arranged for other members of their team to talk to us about their roles. We learnt about careers that can develope with architecture, how to become an architect and what an architect does in their everyday work life. We were then divided into groups and were given the role of ‘client ‘ where we created a brief for another group for the redevelopment of the Agora Gardens area (rear basketball courts) at Siena. We then worked in our teams to design an area for another team (client). Throughout the week we developed a building to fit the criteria of our clients brief. On the second day we went to the Agora area and took photos so that we could understand the space where out design would go. Then we began drawing bubble diagrams, to map out what the building would look like and develop our concepts and ideas. This really helped us to understand where everything would be placed and it made it very easy to begin the process of designing our building. The next day we created a floor plan which we based off our bubble diagrams. From there we created elevation drawings and a 3D model on the computer to bring life to our ideas. Lastly we presented out designs to our parents, staff and members of William Ross Architect firm. Overall, this was such an amazing experience and I have learnt so much from it.Victoria Zikas (Year 10)

Gifted Education Week, 18 - 22 March

Human intelligence is the world’s most important resource. We should do everything we can to nurture and protect it.Phyllis Miller, Mensa Foundation

Gifted Education Week took place during the week commencing 18 March and Siena students and staff embraced it with activities to celebrate and promote the diversity and equity in the education of this cohort. It is important to remember that a truly inclusive education embraces gifted students’ right to learn, to be accepted, respected and supported as stated in The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (2008).

The definition of giftedness, which is generally endorsed in Australia, is by the Professor Gagné (2013), who maintains that gifted students are those who possess outstanding natural abilities in the intellectual, creative, physical or social abilities but may not necessarily be reaching their full potential. Therefore, modifications in teaching, parenting and the way they are supported are necessary to achieve this. This is paramount for the development of giftedness into talents and so with the right support and guidance, they will go on to make important contributions to society. Thus, understanding the true nature of giftedness is essential for devising appropriate programs. For further reading on giftedness in the Australian context, more information is available through this link:

At Siena College, some of the activities which took place throughout Gifted Education Week included the provision of resources to staff on giftedness and differentiation; an informative display on the topic; lunchtime Chess Club and thought provoking board games; a lunchtime screening of a movie about a musically gifted young person and an incursion on robotics organised by Mrs Moore. Overall, it was an enjoyable week of acknowledging and celebrating the learning diversity of our students.

Home Learning Club

Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to attend an after school Home Learning Club. This is a valuable opportunity for students to receive some assistance with their home learning.

Beginning in Week 1 of Term 2, the program will operate each Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30 pm in the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre classroom. A staff member from the Learning Enhancement Department will supervise the program and will provide support as needed to students as they work on home learning tasks. An attendance roll will be taken at each session and students will be required to sign in and out of each session.

If you would like your daughter to attend these weekly sessions, please complete the Expression of Interest form and email to ahanrahan@siena.vic.edu.au A Care Monkey permission form will then be sent to you to complete.

‘A Brave New World’ arrived at Siena in 1993 with the purchase of a number of 386 Mitac computers. For a while, typewriters and computers lived side by side and we love the photo that hig...

A 'Brave New World’ arrived at Siena in 1993 with the purchase of a number of 386 Mitac computers. For a while, typewriters and computers lived side by side and we love the photo that highlights this changing of the guard. The 1996 Year Book states: "Our recently formed Information Technology Services Unit is currently investigating the College’s long term Information Technology needs." Head of IT, Suko Sukohondono has overseen this development since 1997 and together with Dan Henderson and Paul Young assists with all our information technology requests and problems. The past twenty five years have seen so many changes with our computers, each change more amazing than the one before. Our latest computers are HP Pro One 400 and Apple iMacs that are especially helpful with the needs of our Arts and Technology students.

Excursion to Ringwood Magistrates’ Court - Student Reflection

The Unit 3/4 Legal Studies excursion to the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court was extremely interesting and helpful to see what we have been learning placed into a real life scenario. Whilst many people wouldn’t necessarily find a court to be the most exciting place, we as legal students found it fascinating to see all different legal processes come together to serve justice in our community. Seeing the advantages and disadvantages of whether or not an accused has legal representation or not was insightful and showed the daily struggle of those who are unable to afford legal representation.

As we commence the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2021, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensur...

As we commence the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2021, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolments can be submitted via our website.

There has been an increasing number of breakages of glass drink bottles around the College.

Glass Drink Bottles

There has been an increasing number of breakages of glass drink bottles around the College. Often, when this occurs, students are put at risk of slipping on the wet floor and possibly falling on the broken glass. Whilst our Maintenance team is very quick to clean up after a breakage, there remains a real risk of harm from slips and cuts.

Whilst the College supports the need to remain hydrated and acknowledges scientific evidence around possible contaminants leaching out of PET and BPA bottles, we ask that the supply of fragile glass drink bottles be reconsidered given the increased risk to safety.

Students are also encouraged to drink from the filtered 'bubble' taps conveniently located around the College.

On 19 May 19th St Michael's will hold their inaugural Parish Day. Archbishop Peter Comensoli will celebrate mass at 10:30pm. This will be followed by a barbecue and sporting activities fo...

On 19 May 19th St Michael's will hold their inaugural Parish Day. Archbishop Peter Comensoli will celebrate mass at 10:30pm. This will be followed by a barbecue and sporting activities for children. All welcome to help celebrate a wonderful parish community.

As part of the festivities, all past St Michael's students, as well as past and current parishioners are invited to participate in the mass choir and orchestra or perform music of their choice as general entertainment. Assistance is also required for serving and clearing up morning tea. This is an excellent opportunity for community service and/or performance for secondary students.

Any students who would like to participate are asked to email Therese Molnar on therese.molnar@gmail.com. She will provide music to those wishing to participate in the church choir/orchestra and confirm rehearsal times. She will also develop and advise the schedule for performances based on chosen music selections. Any general questions can be directed to John Whitehouse, Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council (j.whitehouse@unimelb.edu.au).

Ther Term 1 online edition of Catholic Education Today is now available. Featuring an article on the recent World Youth Day events in Panama, stories promoting the new campus of St Paul’s College and a student voice initiative involving four primary schools, as well as a photographic tribute to our successful Catholic Education Week, this issue also contains the regular sections highlighting Educators in Profile and Around the Archdiocese.

Dear Members of the Siena College Community,I am delighted to announce that the Board of Directors of Dominican Education Australia Ltd (DEA) has appointed Kath McCarthy as Chair of the ...

Dear Members of the Siena College Community,

I am delighted to announce that the Board of Directors of Dominican Education Australia Ltd (DEA) has appointed Kath McCarthy as Chair of the Board of Siena College Ltd, effective from the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 6 June 2019 up to the date of the College’s 2022 AGM.

In confirming the appointment, Eileen Young, DEA Board Chair said: ‘In the governance role as Chair of the Board, there is a special opportunity to contribute to the work and life of Siena College, in the support of its Principal, and in fostering the understanding and implementation of principles of good governance in the Dominican tradition by the College Board. Together with the Board, the Chair plays an important role in helping Siena College achieve its purpose of providing a safe, caring environment for students, a welcoming and inclusive community and excellence in Catholic education in the Dominican tradition.’

Kath’s appointment has been the culmination of diligent succession planning and commitment to Board renewal. This reflects my long planned retirement from the Board after thirteen years, having seen my three daughters complete their school journey. It has been an absolute privilege for me to serve the College on Committees, the Board and as Chair, with people throughout the college who have been amazing in enabling our young women to be the best they can be. For sharing your joy and support - thank you.

DEA has carefully considered selection of the best person to Chair the College Board at a particularly exciting time, as the recently completed Convent refurbishment reinforces our Dominican story, and the planned selection process for a new Principal in 2020 continues apace. Kath will bridge the old and new beautifully, having been a student and College Captain (1989), being a current parent and having served on the Board for over five years. Kath is currently chair of the Risk Management Committee and a member of the Board Succession Planning Working Group and the Principal Selection Board Subcommittee. Her understanding of Catholic identity and Dominican charism is strong. She holds degrees in Law, Science and Educational Psychology and works as a Consulting Psychologist providing Executive Coaching across multiple industries.

I join DEA and the Siena College community in congratulating Kath on her appointment as Board Chair of Siena College Ltd and in thanking her for her continuing involvement as a Director of the College Board. Kath’s generosity in offering to give her time and expertise is greatly appreciated.

The Siena College Alumnae Association will once again host the annual Careers Showcase at the College on Thursday, 13 June 2019.

The Siena College Alumnae Association will once again host the annual Careers Showcase at the College on Thursday, 13 June 2019. This is an important event to assist your daughter/s in the initial stage of their career journey.

The Showcase will provide students and their parents with the opportunity to hear from a range of Siena Alumnae about their professional pathways. It is designed to help students broaden their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of careers that may be of potential interest. We are fortunate to be so well supported by our past students who are now involved in such a range of interesting and diverse careers.

To register for this event and to select your three preferred career sessions please click here

Registrations will close on Tuesday, 11 June at 9.00am. As the Careers Showcase is extremely popular, please ensure you register by the due date so we can cater for your daughter’s interests.

Congratulations are extended to Siena College Business Manager,Tony Grant and Mark Baldasso (Assistant Business Manager) on graduating this week with an MBAE, a Masters of Business Admini...

Congratulations are extended to Siena College Business Manager,Tony Grant and Mark Baldasso (Assistant Business Manager) on graduating this week with an MBAE, a Masters of Business Administration (Executive), conferred by the Australian Catholic University. Tony and Mark have invested many hours in study and lectures over the past three years and this is a significant achievement.

Congratulations to Grace Power (Class of 2018) who has been recognised for her outstanding achievements in Health and Human Development via a Premier’s Award.

Congratulations to Grace Power (Class of 2018) who has been recognised for her outstanding achievements in Health and Human Development via a Premier’s Award. This is also a tribute to the excellent teaching and mentoring of Anne Rice and the wider VCE Health and Human Development Team last year.

Clare Fedele (Class of 1999) Senior Research Fellow and Research Communications Coordinator at Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreSarah Hearn (Class of 1999) General Manager for NAB Home Lending OperationsMichelle Welsh, née Moylan (Class of 1983) Professor and Head of the Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash University.

The first term of the school year is drawing to a close. It has been a busy term with many community gatherings, much learning and activity that culminates next week with each year level...

The first term of the school year is drawing to a close. It has been a busy term with many community gatherings, much learning and activity that culminates next week with each year level involved in a special program. Some students and staff are heading off to distant places, to Kopanang in South Africa and to Italy, to the lands of Dominic and Catherine. I look forward to travelling with the group going to Italy and to visiting places of special significance to Dominicans, as well as the opportunity to be immersed in the Italian language and culture. Bernadette Donnelly will be Acting Principal while I am away from March 30 to April 22.

This week, we celebrated the College’s nomination as a ‘School of Excellence’. This is a new award set up by The Age and based on data analysed by the Grattan Institute. I was so proud to collect the award at Media House in Docklands last Wednesday that recognised academic improvement over a decade. Our College is non-selective and we are proud of our students’ achievements over so many fields of endeavour. We have had an unrelenting focus on enhancing learning outcomes and wellbeing in our faith based context where we aim for our students to find meaning and purpose and to flourish in our complex world. It was lovely to be recognised in the group of top ten schools across Victoria.

Our ‘Back to Siena’ evening on 15 March was a wonderful celebration of our Dominican heritage, the Sisters who established Siena College and the tradition which we continue today. We welcomed special guests, Dominican Sisters: Margaret Mary Brown, Rosemary Lewins, Frances Caine, Joan Winter, Margaret Fields and Sheila Flynn, along with alumnae and our Ward Councillor Lisa Hollingsworth. I extend our heartfelt thanks to Sister Sheila Flynn for her beautifully written blessing for the refurbished spaces. We were treated to a performance from the Siena Strings Ensemble as the setting sun bathed the Convent in golden light.

Over these last two weeks there have been many and varied excursions, and visits from external presenters and speakers. We have seen the Year 11 students transformed into beautiful young women for their formal, been entertained at Siena’s Night of Jazz, celebrated wins in sports finals and joined in special activities for ‘Gifted and Talented Week’. It was lovely to welcome Year 8 to 11 parents to the Convent courtyard and to open up the refurbished areas of the Convent for people to wander through. I thank Siena Parents’ Association Presidents Sebastian Gadaleta and Carmel Musco, the SPA Committee and all the willing parent helpers for their welcome hospitality. I encourage all parents who are interested in viewing our convent refurbishments to join us tomorrow for our ‘Open Convent’ event, from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

The Easter season and Holy Week are the most significant time in the Church’s calendar for Christians. This season takes on special significance this year after the tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand. May love, hope, faith and endurance outlast the evil perpetrated by a few. As we revisit the Easter story towards the end of the school holiday period, may we be conscious of the incarnate Jesus who lives and is present amongst us. May we recognise and celebrate signs of new life and be renewed again.

I thank all members of our community, staff, students and parents, for a very busy and productive term and wish everyone a happy and holy Easter season.

Activities Week

We wish all our students a successful Activities week. This program is well planned and supports the learning and wellbeing of our students. We look forward to hearing the stories of their experiences on their return in Term 2.

Siena in the City Parent Showcase Evening

Year 9 students will present their Siena in the City group findings at the Parent Showcase on Wednesday, 8 May. The evening will take place in the St Catherine’s Centre from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

Semester 1 Examinations

Year 9, 10 and 11 students will undertake Semester 1 examinations in June, commencing on 17 June and concluding on 21 June. Students studying a VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject will sit the compulsory VCAA GAT (General Achievement Test) on 12 June. Please note, there will be no Year 11 or 12 classes on this day.

2020 Accelerated Studies Criteria

In Term 3, students will be asked to select their subjects for 2020. A student applying for an accelerated studies subject in 2020 must have proven ability to cope with the workload, have sound organisational skills and have demonstrated excellence in her chosen Year 9/10 subject area. The accelerated study subject must not negatively impact on the remaining Year 10 to 11 subjects and a high level of literacy will also be beneficial.

It would be expected that a Year 9 student considering applying to study a Unit 1 and 2 subject as a Year 10 student, would be performing at a high academic standard, achieving results of 80% or higher in the relevant subject area and averaging 75% or higher in at least four other subjects studied in Semester 1. A Year 10 student applying to study a Unit 3 and 4 subject will need to have achieved 80% or higher in the subject and an average of 75% in three other Year 10 subjects. Heads of Learning will oversee the application process.

A student who does not meet the criteria based on Semester 1 results is able to reapply at the end of Semester 2, but cannot be guaranteed a place. If you have any questions regarding the accelerated studies application process, please contact the relevant Head of Learning or the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching.

In early Term 3, current Year 9 and 10 students will receive a hard copy of the 2020 Subject Handbook and the current Year 11 students will receive an interactive digital copy of their Subject Handbook. More details regarding the subject selection process will be published at a later date.

Term 1 Holidays

The Term 1 break is a great opportunity for our students to relax and be reinvigorated. We would expect that Year 10 to 12 students would be using some of the holiday period to complete set work, prepare for Term 2 topics and start revising for their Semester Examinations. Year 7 to 9 students will not have any set home learning over the holidays, but we do encourage them to continue with their wider reading.

It has been a very smooth term and the girls seem well adjusted to their new classes. I thank the girls and their teachers for their efforts this term. I wish our students, parents and guardians a well deserved break and a joyful Easter.

New Staff Profiles

We extend a very warm welcome to Therese Black who teaches Year 12 Maths Methods, Year 11 Maths Methods, Year 10 Pre Mathematical Methods, Year 9 Mainstream Maths and Year 8 Key Maths. Therese graduated from the University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University (formerly Christ College).

Therese was Head of Maths for seven years at Killester College in Springvale and was more recently Leader of Teaching and Learning for Years 7 to 9.

Therese is also a past Siena student (Class of 1982) and her four daughters attended the College from 2006 through until 2016.

Many of you will have had the chance to speak with our friendly new Student Receptionist, Jodie Chiodo. Jodie comes to us from Xavier College and Sacred Heart Girls College where she also worked in Student Reception for a number of years. We are thrilled to have the benefit of Jodie's extensive experience in administration roles and are very pleased to have her in a full time capacity.

Jodie’s home life is brimming with two dogs, a cat, three children and a husband, and she is a passionate Tigers supporter!

It’s difficult to believe that we are drawing to the end of Term 1. We are blessed to be moving into holidays (holy days) that will enable us to reflect upon our life of faith, hope and ...

It’s difficult to believe that we are drawing to the end of Term 1. We are blessed to be moving into holidays (holy days) that will enable us to reflect upon our life of faith, hope and love across these past three months. This term our prayer life has included our Commencement Eucharist, weekly celebrations of the Eucharist, Prayer Services to mark the National Apology to the Stolen Generations and International Women’s Day and Morning Prayer in House Groups.

Students from Years 7 to 10 have commenced their Community Service Projects and the College Community has supported Catholic welfare, aid and development agencies including Caritas Australia and Vinnies.

In the coming days Year 12 students will participate in their annual three day retreat at Pallotti College in the beautiful Yarra Ranges, Year 9 students will undertake Siena in the City with a Religious Education focus, Year 7s and 8s will imbibe the beauty of God’s creation at their respective Camps and Year 11 students will enjoy a Retreat Day facilitated by the Reach Foundation Team.

We have offered hospitality, sought and received forgiveness and recognised God’s hand at work in our lives through the daily practice of Pause and Pray. Our personal life of faith and the mission of the College integrates our head, heat and hands and is given expression in a myriad of personal and collective ways. I hope and trust that all members of the Siena Community can reflect back over the term through God’s eyes and heart.

Marking Easter

Palm SundayPeople around the world march on Palm Sunday to advocate for peace and justice for all. For Christians it is a reminder that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem only to be shunned and crucified a few days later. Members of the Siena college community are invited to gather under the College banner on Sunday, 14 April, just outside the State Library in Melbourne. This is not an official school event and teachers present will be at the Palm Sunday Rally as private citizens, not as supervising teachers.

TriduumThe holiest days of the Church’s calendar occur at the end of the Term 1 holidays. Please check your parish bulletin or website for details. Many parishes also hold the Rite of Reconciliation in the lead up to the Triduum.

Much of the chocolate that finds its way into our shops and homes is made with cocoa from plantations that use trafficked children. They are kidnapped or their families are tricked, forced to work in the cocoa plantations from an early age, for long hours, in dangerous working conditions, without any possibility of attending school.

A global movement has begun to change this. The movement tackles poverty and empowers producers who are doing the right thing. Farmers operating with Fairtrade Certification, Rainforest Alliance or UTZ Certified are engaging in good labour practices.

Stop the Traffik is a worldwide organisation dedicated to abolishing human trafficking – its report, The Good Egg Guide, has a list of ethical chocolate brands and Easter eggs and products that are free from trafficked labour. These include:

The Christchurch massacre is one of the most extreme acts of terrorism the world has seen in recent times. For New Zealand, it was a loss of innocence.

The Christchurch massacre is one of the most extreme acts of terrorism the world has seen in recent times. For New Zealand, it was a loss of innocence. SchoolTV was actually filming in Auckland when news broke of the harrowing events unfolding in Christchurch. Unfortunately, this will impact on many young people throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some parents and caregivers may struggle to explain this tragedy to their young people, many of whom are already struggling with high levels of anxiety about the state of their world. It is important to put this event into context for children of all ages. Although we cannot control what happens in our world, we can choose the way we respond. The distressing nature of this event will never be forgotten, but at the same time we should not allow it to permanently disturb or destroy our future generations.

In this Special Report, parents and care givers are provided with practical strategies on how to talk their children in a reassuring manner. It will also highlight the necessity to be aware of the signs of trauma, should your daughter be adversely affected.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact us at Siena College for further information.

Online Feedback and Parent Teacher Conversations

Parents are reminded that their daughter’s Assessment Task Feedback and Results are accessible via Siena Central. Email notifications will be sent when your daughter’s work has been marked. Log into the Parent Portal, select your daughter’s name in the side menu and select 'Grades' from the options. The percentage result and teacher comments are published through Siena Central for all assessed tasks.

The Parent Teacher interviews provide an excellent opportunity to continue the conversation with your daughter’s subject teachers around her learning. Thank you to those parents who attended our Term 1 interviews. These conversations enable a further discussion of your daughter’s attainment regarding the Classroom Learning Indicators and her interim academic progress.

At the end of Semester 1 parents will receive a Statement of Results via Siena Central indicating your daughter’s overall result for the subject and her performance against the Classroom Learning Indicators. Year 12 Statement of Results will indicate the satisfactory or non satisfactory completion of the Unit of Study.

If you have any questions or difficulties accessing the Siena Central Parent Portal or the online feedback, please contact IT Help at the College on 9835 0200 or ithelp@siena.vic.edu.au

Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN

Students in Years 7 and 9 will participate in NAPLAN Online Testing from Wednesday, 15 May to Friday, 17 May. Students are assessed using common national tests in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. These tests provide a snapshot of the progress that individuals and the cohort are making in comparison to state and national standards.

Parents, guardians and students have received an initial letter regarding device requirements. We ask for your support in ensuring that your daughter has all required materials for the tests. Students and parents are required to ensure all required hardware (iPad/Laptop and headphones) is fully functioning and brought to school every day during the test period. If a student does not have the required hardware, unfortunately she will not be able to undertake the test. Please see the test schedule below:

NAPLAN Schedule

Wednesday, 15 May

Thursday, 16 May

Friday, 17 May

Periods 1 and 2

Year 9 Writing test

Year 7 Reading test

Year 9 Numeracy test

Periods 3 and 4

Year 7 Writing test

Year 9 Conventions of Language test

Year 7 Numeracy test

Periods 5 and 6

Year 9 Reading test

Year 7 Conventions of Language test

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted. If your daughter requires disability assistance, please contact Mrs. Ansalie Hanrahan, Head of Learning Enhancement.

Parents and guardians will receive their daughter’s results when available, usually in September.

Siena Central Parent Survey

Thank you to all parents who participated in the Siena Central Parent Survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will inform how we continue to improve our communication platform. Concerns regarding login issues and ease of information location have been noted. It is pleasing to see overwhelming support for the platform as a successful means of parents understanding and receiving feedback on their daughter’s learning and a portal for all College information. Parents are encouraged to access their daughter’s class pages to further understand daily learning and engage with home learning requirements.

In Semester 2, we hope to enable parent access to the Subject Course Page. This will enable parents to access all subject resources, giving parents the same access as students. Parents will be notified when this feature is available.

Siena's Night of Jazz was held on Wednesday, 27 March at the Manningham Hotel

Siena’s Night of Jazz

The Music Department once again came alive at this year’s Siena’s Night of Jazz. Stage Band, Sisters of Swing, Groove Train and Canti Dolce have been working hard in the lead up to this event, which was held at the Manningham Hotel in Bulleen. The ensembles performed their three set pieces of varying styles for the upcoming ‘Generations in Jazz’ festival. There were also an impressive number of instrumental and vocal soloists, who performed with musicians in the house band, which included our special guest, Ms Tamara Murphy. Tamara is a fabulous bassist and composer who helped the soloists feel comfortable and relaxed in their rehearsals in the lead up to Night of Jazz, and accompanied them beautifully during their performances. We would like to extend our thanks to Tamara for her participation.

A standout for this year was the performance of the Junior Jammers ensemble, which featured students in Year 8 attempting solo improvisation for the first time. The girls performed incredibly well and we look forward to seeing them back on stage at future events.

This event is a major fundraiser for Generations in Jazz festival, and we would like to thank Tanya Ovens (FOMPA/SPA) for all of her assistance. The night was well supported with over 170 people in the audience and a very successful raffle with numerous prizes.

Congratulations to all students who participated in the evening and thank you to all staff who contributed to this event.

Year 7 Music Program

It has been wonderful to see the smiles and hear the enthusiastic music playing from our two new Year 7 music groups, Junior String Ensemble and Junior Band. These ensembles have now been rehearsing for three weeks, and are already making terrific progress as well as having heaps of fun. Thank you to Mr Nieuwkerk, Ms Dandens and Mr Bennier for your work with these girls, and we look forward to hearing their debut performances at the Autumn Concert in May.

Welcome also to all Year 7 students who have joined the Junior Choir in the last couple of weeks. It has been amazing to see the enthusiasm and hear the girls as they begin preparing for the St Catherine’s Day Mass. Thank you to Ms Hill and Ms Patton for your work with the new singers.

Jazz workshop and Generations in Jazz

As part of their final preparations towards Generations in Jazz, Stage Band and Sisters of Swing students will be participating in a jazz band workshop on Wednesday, 24 April from 4.--pm until 7.30pm. The Generations in Jazz tour will be departing on Friday, 3 May and returning on Sunday, 5 May. The students are getting excited about hearing the guest artists and schools from all around Australia perform at this event.

Years 7 and 8 Leadership, Project Compassion, Current Affairs Conversation Club

Student Leadership News

The Year 7 and 8 Leadership Workshop Series commenced on Monday, 18 March, with forty enthusiastic students participating. The first two sessions have focused on the principles of servant leadership, and leadership in a Dominican context. The next workshop will be on Thursday, 28 March, with a focus on Student Leadership at Siena College, and students will be briefed on the process to apply for a Year 7 or Year 8 Student Leader position. Applications will be due on Monday, 1 April, with elections scheduled to take place early in Term 2.

A group of Year 11 and 12 students have commenced training in group discussion facilitation, and will be leading a current affairs discussion group commencing in Term 2. This group will be open to all students to attend, to discuss issues and events of interest to them. More details will be made available at the start of Term 2.

The SRC ran a fundraising event on Wednesday, 20 March to raise money for Caritas’ annual Project Compassion campaign. There were two awards available in the House based competition. One for the longest line of coins, and the other for the highest value line. It was a great success, with $1100 raised for Project Compassion, and was an enjoyable event led by our student leaders. There are more events planned this week to raise awareness and funds for Project Compassion, including a Sports Uniform Day, a “Bucket Challenge Relay”, and a Bake Sale organised by the Waratah House Leaders.

The following reports are from Student Leaders about recent Siena College events:

Siena College Fun Run

On the 24 March Siena College held its third Fun Run at Wattle Park. I had the opportunity to volunteer at the cake stall in the morning and it was so good to see the amount of time and effort students had put into their baked goods! The SPA volunteers running the cake stall and the hot breakfast food and sausages did an amazing job on the day and I know everyone was grateful for the food after the race. The day consisted of a 4km fun run and the popular 4km colour run, running and walking the race was lots of fun with friends, nearly as fun as washing all the dye out of at the end of the day. Overall, it was a very enjoyable day.

Emily Hodder, Cassia House Captain

Project Compassion Coin Line Fundraiser

On Wednesday we had our Coin Line fundraiser for Caritas’ Project Compassion. The atmosphere at the event was one filled with zealous spirit and a desire to raise money. In the end, Kurrajong won the ‘Longest Line Award’ with a staggering 58 metres and Dianella won the ‘Line Value Award’ raising $322.95. It was great that we were able to raise a total of $1101 for this great cause. It was amazing to see the girls come together in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity through such a successful event!

Eliza Kral, Waratah House Captain

Current Affairs Conversation Club Coming Soon!

Starting early next term, Siena will be introducing our very own current affairs discussion group. This is open to all students and we would love to see as many girls from all different year levels, who are interested in learning more about issues in the news.

The discussion group will provide students with a platform to discuss and debate all sorts of current affairs. Don’t hesitate to come along, the discussion group will be an excellent way to learn about issues and is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the variety of opinions in our school!

If you have any suggestions of an interesting topic, feel free to contact us!

With the impending Siena Immersion experience at Kopanang, near Johannesburg, South Africa, the Year 11 Politics class along with Immersion participants conducted a mock election to raise...

With the impending Siena Immersion experience at Kopanang, near Johannesburg, South Africa, the Year 11 Politics class along with Immersion participants conducted a mock election to raise funds for our South African friends.

Six 'candidates' from the main Australian political parties delivered probing speeches covering current pertinent policies. The receptive crowd was encouraged to buy as many votes as possible and then record their preferences in order to raise funds for the trip.

Consequently Kampaign Kopanang 2019 raised over $700 which will buy sanitary products, basic stationery items and sewing and craft items for the women and children at Kopanang in the next few weeks.

Congratulations to all girls for such sterling performances and marvellous contributions for a good cause. We look forward to news of the exploits in Kopanang 2019.

‘Playing’ with the Conventions of Commedia dell Arte

Our VCE Drama students are currently preparing for their first Outcome, a self devised ensemble performance. To support their process and extend their knowledge of performance styles, students have participated in workshops exploring a range of styles including Epic Theatre, Physical Theatre, Theatre of Cruelty and Commedia dell Arte. We were very fortunate to have Rosa Campagnaro, the Director of Make a Scene Theatre Company, visit Siena College last week to facilitate a three hour practical workshop with our students. The workshop covered the historical context and origins of the style, the stock characters and importance of mask and the absurdity and comical conventions of the style. It was wonderful to see the students extend themselves physically and ‘play’ with the conventions. They will now consolidate and embed this knowledge into their own performance work.

Top Class Drama: An Excursion to Inspire

VCE Drama students visited the Playhouse Theatre on Wednesday, 13 March as part of VCAA's Season of Excellence concerts and exhibitions. Our students viewed and analysed a range of highly skilled Drama students perform their solo work to an enthusiastic audience. The Chief Assessor for Drama was also present and shared a number of important tips and gave advice to students about how to approach the task. This extended learning opportunity works to inspire our students as they will begin preparing for their own solo examination next term.

Last week Siena College celebrated Harmony Week. We reflected on the message of inclusion at various times, in the Pastoral period, at lunchtime and in academic classes. Given the recent events in Christchurch, all students were asked to reflect on how we can embed harmony in our community. In classrooms, students were asked to reflect on how our actions towards others cultivate a sense of belonging and a spirit of compassion within our Siena community.

In the pastoral period we celebrated Australian multiculturalism by sharing our families’ backgrounds and journeys to Australia and the successful integration of migrants into our Victorian community.

At lunchtime on Friday afternoon, our Year 12 and Year 7 students participated in a Big Sister Little Sister Shared Lunch activity, which aimed to deepen the connection between our junior and senior students and build empathy towards one another in our Siena community.

The Big Sister Little Sister lunch gave us an opportunity to catch up with our little sisters and get to know them better. It was a great experience and allowed many points of similarity to be found not only with our little sisters but also other Year 7s. This created a sense of cohesion and harmony between the two year levels, which usually interact separately.Eliza Belleville, Year 12

The Big Sister Little Sister Shared Lunch gave us an opportunity to bond with our little sisters in a relaxed and positive environment. It allowed us to see points of similarity between the Year 7s and Year 12s, creating a sense of belonging and community.Hannah Walsh, Year 12

The Big Sister Little Sister lunch was amazing! It was a great activity that promoted Harmony Week because we were all able to share experiences and food with one another. It was a lunchtime filled with laughter and fun which I think was the most important part. Lila Walsh, Year 7

Arts Centre Tour and Performance of Lady in the Van

The Year 10 Drama students recently travelled into the city to see Allen Bennett’s play, The Lady in the Van. Before the performance we took part in a tour of the Arts Centre. We learnt about different theatre spaces, stages, architecture and design and the history of the buildings. Following this informative tour we enjoyed lunch at Southbank before the performance, starring Miriam Margolyes in the Playhouse Theatre. We found the performance very enjoyable and loved the city experience.

In Drama class we are currently analysing and evaluating the performance with a focus on how an actor creates a character, the use of production areas including lighting, sound, set design and direction, and how these work to help tell a story creatively and symbolically. We also analyse mood and how an actor-audience relationship is created.

FUN FACTS: DID YOU KNOW?

The State Theatre is the fourth largest stage in the world?

There are over 70,000 golden spheres on top of the State Theatre roofline that are purely decorative

Each of the four theatres at the Arts Centre use contrasting colour palettes that are inspired by Australian foods and minerals

The walls that adorn the theatre and foyers are made of velvet, leather, gold leaf, marble and concrete pillars that have been painted to look like marble

Swarovski crystals make up the chandeliers in Hamer Hall

The top of Arts Centre spire was designed to resemble a ballerina’s tutu

Like an iceberg, only ten percent of the Arts Centre appears above ground. The other ninety percent is underground, going down approximately 6 to 8 levels

With the end of Term 1 fast approaching, Siena College has successfully qualified for several finals.

With the end of Term 1 fast approaching, Siena College has successfully qualified for several finals. Please see below for teams involved:

Sport

Team

Final

Indoor Cricket

Senior

Grand Final: Monday, 1 April 2019

Indoor Cricket

Senior B

Grand Final: Monday, 1 April 2019

Indoor Cricket

Inter B

Grand Final: Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Junior Tennis

C Grade

Semi Final: Thursday, 28 March 2019

We have had over four hundred girls sign up for a GSV sport in Term 2, a fantastic result.We have entered six AFL Teams, nineteen Netball teams, three Hockey Teams, one Water polo Team and an Aerobics and Cross Country squad. We will also continue to run a casual walking/run club in to Term 2 however this will be modified to include Pilates and bootcamp as the weather becomes less predictable.

Well done to all girls who participated in the four Touch Rugby clinics run by the Melbourne Rebels this term. We are hopeful that Touch Rugby will become a GSV sport offered to girls in 2020 and this has been an excellent opportunity for girls in Years 7 and 8 to try it out. Thank you to Mr Morris for all his work in offering this opportunity for the girls.

Well done to Jaimie Guan for placing third in the State Karate Tournament and to Teah Wilson who won gold, breaking her personal best and the Little Athletics record in Shot Put at the Little Athletics Victoria championships. Two fantastic results and we congratulate these girls on their individual achievements.

Next week students in Years 10 and 11 will participate in a variety of careers experiences as part of Activities Week.

Next week students in Years 10 and 11 will participate in a variety of careers experiences as part of Activities Week. Year 10s will be completing their academic and careers testing (results available next term) as well as participating in the 'Shape you Destiny' workshop. Year 11s will be visited by all major tertiary institutions for presentations on courses, careers, pathways and information on post school options.

Student Reflection:

On Tuesday, 19 March, the combined Year 11 and Year 12 VCE Music Performance class attended the Top Class Concert of 2019, at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert is composed of students who have completed either Music Performance, Music Investigation or VCE VET Music Industry in the previous year, and who achieved a perfect score in their performance exam. They are then asked to play a particular piece in which their performance of the piece stood out against everyone else in the state.

Our class attended two concerts, both featuring many very different and inspiring musicians. The instruments which featured across the two concerts included Clarinet, Harp, Cello, Marimba, Viola, Violin, Tuba, Guitar, Trumpet, Piano, Voice, Flute, Bassoon, Drum Kit, Electric Bass, and Tabla. Most of the instruments played by students in out VCE class were covered, so the majority of students had at least one performance that was specifically related to their instrument, that they could take specific pieces of detail and information from to apply to their own instrumental skills.

We were particularly impressed by the performances on the Harp, Tuba, Drums, Electric Bass and Tabla, as these instruments are different from the instruments we hear in class, at school. The girl who played Electric Bass, Ashleigh Howell (Catholic Ladies College), for example, played David Bowie’s 'Isn’t She Lovely' with a backing track, and was commended by VCAA for her original interpretation of the piece, while maintaining part of David Bowie’s original performance. Many of us would agree that this performance was one of the best versions of that song that we have ever heard.

The traditional Tabla performance by Rithvik Chand (Lakeview Senior College), accompanied by another musician playing the Indian instrument, the sitar, was intriguing and exciting and a valuable insight into Indian culture. Whilst we are able to listen to Indian music online or on Spotify, we do not gain the same experience as seeing a live performance or even the experience of playing the instrument. The tabla is a small set of two drums, played sitting down, and with different parts of your hand. Chand used the palm, fingertips, and heel of his hand fluently and accurately at extremely fast tempos in order to create different tone colour on the instrument, and creating and exciting musical character by increasing the tempo each time the song was repeated.

These were just two of the amazing performances, which we learnt so much from. The excursion gave us the chance to think about stage presence, articulation, dynamics, fluency, musicality and phrasing and various other musical performance elements so that we may take what we learnt and put it into practice for out own future performances, enhancing our abilities and musical potential even further.

The Health and Physical Education faculty has enjoyed a very busy and exciting Term 1 for 2019. Our Year 7 students have been participating in an Invasion Games unit. The focus of this u...

The Health and Physical Education faculty has enjoyed a very busy and exciting Term 1 for 2019. Our Year 7 students have been participating in an Invasion Games unit. The focus of this unit of work is to use small sided team games to develop levels of tactical understanding and game strategy, which can then be transferred to sports throughout the year. The Invasion Games unit is a fun and exciting way to start Year 7 Physical Education, and there have been some very creative games going on in classes!

Year 9 students have been participating in a Sport Education in a Physical Education Program (SEPEP) Volleyball unit. In this unit, the students play in a team based Volleyball competition where they are also asked to complete various roles including scoring, umpiring, compiling results, creating ladders and in some cases even media reports.

“The SEPEP Volleyball unit really helped us gradually improve our skills, we had to use a lot of teamwork and communication. All the games were fun and competitive, and everyone got involved. Within our team we all had roles to play such as captain, scorers and umpires, this helped us feel like we were contributing and applying our knowledge of the game. Overall, our team really enjoyed this experience”.Sophie Gazzola

“This unit focused on teamwork and communication. We had high energy between the team and excitement for the game. We learnt how to apply the skills of Volleyball gradually in the unit and to communicate effectively with each other to play fairly”. Trinity Ng

In Food Technology, students studying Healthy Food by Design have been involved in a project with The Food Security Network. This program is designed to offer the students a realistic insight into the diverse members of their community suffering food insecurity. The students are taught how to plant, maintain and harvest a productive crop of fresh produce which is then donated to members of the community in need. In Term 2, our students will visit the Asylum Seeker Refuge Centre to donate the produce once freshly harvested from their gardens.

“I learnt how to prepare a garden before we plant vegetables in it. I’m looking forward to delivering the food to the asylum seekers and seeing their reactions to the fresh food”. Jolene Gammilonghi

“So far I have learnt how to keep the soil fresh and nutritious, so our plants can grow effectively. I am looking forward to watching our garden grow and eventually pick the vegetables and hand them over to the asylum seekers”.Jordyn Kourmadias

Unit One Religion and Society Excursion – Year 10

As part of their study of Religion and Society, the Year 10 cohort embarked on a visit to the Jewish Holocaust Centre and St Kilda Hebrew Congregation to enhance their understanding of the Jewish religious tradition and learn about Judaism in Australia. It was an opportunity to see how religions and the societies in which they exist have a dynamic interrelationship – each can impact each other significantly and the consequences can be enriching or devastating.

Student reflection:

The highlight of the day was learning about the tribulations that Jewish adherents had experienced during the Holocaust and throughout other points in history at the Jewish Holocaust Museum. I learnt more about the camaraderie between Jewish people in the concentration camps, and how the values of Judiaism had connected victims of the Holocaust together spiritually. Although the Holocaust was a disastrous event, it laid the foundation for strong bonds within the Jewish community and demonstrated the strength and endurance of Jewish adherents as well as the loyalty they had to each other and God. I often wonder about how the Holocaust affected non Jewish people that were affiliated with victims of the Holocaust. I think of the non Jewish people that had family and friends that were victims of the concentration camps and how it may have changed their outlook on the events that occurred during that period of time. I would also like to know more about what non Jewish people did to help Jewish adherents that were prosecuted during the Nazi regime.

Eleanor Fels, Year 10

How important do you believe interfaith dialogue is to creating peace?

The role of interfaith dialogue is to connect adherents from various religions to discover similarities and differences between them, and cultivate respect and high esteem for the values and beliefs that others hold. Interfaith dialogue creates a connected community where we can understand the culture of others, and how it may affect their personal outlook on life. Due to interfaith dialogue, people around the world have been able to gain an understanding of the Jewish faith, and what it means to its adherents. When we don’t understand something or are not exposed to it, we can find it threatening. Sharing our values and beliefs to others through interfaith dialogue can foster an appreciation of religions other than our own. It is important to explore the diversity of other religions to further develop an understanding of a different culture and way of life.

The Year 7 students had a wonderful opportunity to experience and participate in the annual chess incursion.

The Year 7 students had a wonderful opportunity to experience and participate in the annual chess incursion on Wednesday, 27 February, organised by the Learning Enhancement Department. Chess coaches Vanya, Denise, Nikayla and Chelsea from Dark Horse Chess taught the girls how to play and some clever strategies of the game.

After the initial welcome and introduction to the coaches, each student was placed into a group based on her level of experience and expertise in playing chess. All levels of ability were represented, from absolute first time beginners to advanced chess strategists. In their groups, the students worked with one of the four Dark Horse staff to learn more about the game, to become familiar with and practise the different moves of each chess piece and to apply strategy.

The Year 7 students enjoyed the day immensely. Some of the skills that learning chess helps to develop are:

Siena also offers all students the opportunity to join the Chess Club, which meets every Wednesday at lunchtime in the Learning Centre. Club members benefit from the support of Denise, a staff member of Dark Horse Chess. Denise attends each week during the term, coaching and encouraging the students to build upon and practise their skills, regardless of level. Those students who attend may have the opportunity to participate in chess tournaments at other schools to further enhance their chess skills. It is also a wonderful opportunity to see the girls from all year levels enjoy each other’s company and to play against each other.

Student Reflection

On Monday, 18 March we participated in a session with ‘Robogals’, an inspiring group of women in engineering. With a combined class of Year 9 and 10 students, the ‘Robogals’ placed us into groups of two or three and gave each group a robot. They also gave us a computer, with the program Mindstorms on it, designed to communicate with the hardware of the robot, and make it do particular functions. First, we had to make our robot turn and reverse. Using the symbols and loop functions on the program, we eventually managed to make our robots have a wrestling tournament! A square was marked with tape on the floor and all the robots stayed in this square. Using light intensity features, in the settings section of the robot, and program, the robots reversed every time they reached the tape. We each lined up our robot and off they went, ramming into each other. It was a delight to see which robot would win. This session with ‘Robogals’, inspired and made me want to pursue a job in engineering. The ‘Robogals’, enlightened me on the different sorts of engineering, and the role of engineering in our society, along with exciting career opportunities in the future!

Home Learning ClubStudents in Years 7 to 10 are invited to attend an after school Home Learning Club.

Home Learning Club

Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to attend an after school Home Learning Club. This is a valuable opportunity for students to receive some assistance with their home learning.

Beginning in Week 1 of Term 2, the program will operate each Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30 pm in the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre classroom. A staff member from the Learning Enhancement Department will supervise the program and will provide support as needed to students as they work on home learning tasks. An attendance roll will be taken at each session and students will be required to sign in and out of each session.

If you would like your daughter to attend these weekly sessions, please complete the Expression of Interest form and email to ahanrahan@siena.vic.edu.au A Care Monkey permission form will then be sent to you to complete.

Student Reflection

In Week 6, the Year 12 Literature class had the opportunity to participate in an incursion where actors performed scenes from Tennessee Williams’ play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. We were fortunate to share this experience with students from Koonung Secondary College and Camberwell Girls’ Grammar School, who are also studying the play. The skilful performances of the actors provoked much discussion amongst the students as we shared our individual interpretations of the play, the playwright’s message and how it impacts the audience. Seeing the three actors perform was an immersive experience which let us momentarily travel to the world of the play and more closely experience the powerful emotions of characters and tense atmospheres of scenes. This developed our understanding of the story while revealing the skill and detailed interpretation which actors need to portray characters according to the playwright’s wishes. The incursion helped us to build our own unique interpretations of techniques and characters and enriched our study of literature showing how written texts can be transformed into dynamic representations of meaning. Emilee Molcik Year 12

Camberwell Lacrosse Club is a local community club based in Ashburton/Glen Iris that competes in junior and senior male and female lacrosse competition in Melbourne. Our club is preparing for the winter season and is looking for children who would like to give lacrosse a go. It is a great sport for kids of all ages because it is active and builds team work and self esteem. More details about the club are on the web at www.clclax.org.au

Term 1 is flying by with many important community events still on the calendar. We are looking forward to the ‘Back to Siena’ evening and the blessing of our refurbished Convent.

Term 1 is flying by with many important community events still on the calendar. We are looking forward to the ‘Back to Siena’ evening and the blessing of our refurbished Convent. We will gather to honour and give thanks for the Dominican Sisters who established this school and for all who have gone before to create the Siena story of the past seventy-nine years. The project was originally conceived some years ago as part of a long term Master Plan and a vision to reopen the old wooden doors to the Convent as the gateway to the College. It has been a great pleasure to continue our partnership with Williams Ross Architects to refurbish the Convent. Their sensitive designs and finishes have allowed the beauty and craftsmanship of this building to shine through again and for it to be reinstated at the heart of the College as a place for our community to meet, to remember, and to reminisce about the College’s early beginnings.

As part of the refurbishment, ceramic artist, Mary-Lou Pittard was commissioned to design tiles for the fountain that is in the centre of the cloister. The deep blue border of the tiles matches the beautiful blue dome of the Chapel and they commemorate the Pioneer Sisters of 1867 and the opening of the College in 1940. The Pioneer Sisters, eight, courageous young Irish women, left the port of Dublin on a wooden sailing ship almost one hundred and fifty two years ago. Their legacy was Dominican schools along the east coast of Australia and seventy-three years later, Siena College. The tiles feature the native flowers after which the College’s four Houses are named, the Waratah, the blue Dianella, yellow Cassia blossoms and green of the Kurrajong. The tiles also feature the lily of St Catherine, the orange trees of St Dominic, and the flowers of a native Australian Correa that symbolise our place in Australia. They pick up the design of the tiles around the Chapel door that were installed to celebrate the Year of Mercy and the 800 year anniversary of the Dominican Order in 2016.

The project has involved many people in the community and the generous support of donors to our philanthropic campaign of past years. On 30 April we will be holding an Open Morning for the wider community and neighbours to visit the Convent and Chapel and I encourage you to join us for a tour of the iconic building and cloister.

It was wonderful to see so many of our new families in attendance for the traditional Year 7 Welcome Evening on Friday, 1 March. Refreshments were much appreciated on such a hot evening and I thank Siena Parents’ Association Presidents Sebastian Gadaleta and Carmel Musco, the SPA Committee and all the willing parent helpers for their welcome and hospitality.

Ursula Harris (Class of 1984), was the guest speaker for this year’s International Women’s Day breakfast. She spoke of her role as a cartographer and scientist, and of her many months spent in the Antarctic in a largely male dominated field. We continue to be inspired by the courageous and empowered Siena women who return to share their stories. I thank Claire Moody and the SRC for their efforts in organising this sell out event, the proceeds of which support the Kopanang community in South Africa.

A number of staff and students depart for distant places prior to the end of the term and will be commissioned and blessed at our weekly College Eucharist in the Chapel over two Thursdays, 21 and 28 March. Michael Petrie, Jennifer Levett and Bronwyn Ilott, along with Dominican Sister, Sheila Flynn, will accompany a group of nine students to South Africa to work with the women and families of the Kopanang community near Johannesburg. Our students are so privileged to have this experience that takes them out of their own context and immerses them in the culture and spirituality of a vastly different country and people. Sister Sheila Flynn described an immersion as ‘an invitation to enter the context of the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalized, and to view the world in a radically different way, from the heart and the hearth of the other.’

I am joining Tina Di Camillo, Anthony Vadala and twenty-three excited students on a language and cultural trip to Italy. We will visit Venice, Siena, Florence, and Rome. For me it will be a wonderful opportunity to visit places of significance to Dominicans, especially the small walled town of Siena where St Catherine lived and worked.

The recent College Swimming Carnival was a great community day with close to perfect weather, enthusiastic cheering from all four Houses and strong competition with many students electing to take part. It was a wonderful display of Siena spirit to have seven hundred girls entered in events. Congratulations are extended to all competitive swimmers and divers who secured a place or achieved a personal best and to the students and staff who took to the water to participate on the day. Thanks to the excellent leadership of Head of Sport, James Houghton, and all staff who oversaw events on the day, it ran like clockwork and was much enjoyed by all who participated.

On Tuesday, 12 March, Siena College staff participated in an enriching Staff Faith Development Day as we welcomed Dr James Nickoloff to our College. Dr Nickoloff is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and a highly regarded theologian at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, a Dominican university.

I take this opportunity to correct the misrepresentation of Siena College’s position on the Climate Change strike. Our College motto is Veritas, Truth. We are absolutely committed to educating young women to think critically, be discerning, have a voice and speak their Truth. The College absolutely endorses and acknowledges students’ rights to give voice to their very genuine concerns regarding the Federal Government’s record on Climate Change Policy. I am supportive of the Siena students who decided to join the collective action and add their voice to the calls for action to combat climate change. I am equally supportive of students who chose to remain at school. No student will be penalised in any way for attending the strike. The College’s VCE Handbook includes provision to complete School Assessed Coursework (SAC) early where there is an anticipated absence. Students were reminded of this provision and some took up this option. The College’s position is that participation in the strike was a decision for individual students and their parents.

It is hard to ignore the events of these past weeks and the scandal, grief and sense of betrayal over the findings of the Royal Commission into sexual abuse and the recent conviction and charging of Cardinal George Pell. Our College is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all members of the Siena community and to respecting the humanity and dignity of all. We remain committed to honest dialogue, open and transparent processes and to compassion and support for all victims of abuse as the legal process takes its course. The hope in all of this is that the time for remaining silent as a Church and a community, is past. We hold in our prayers all people who have been abused, and their families and loved ones, wherever and whenever that abuse occurred. May they be listened to, receive justice, healing and peace.

Marking Ash Wednesday

Do I live for fire or for ash?

It is a centuries old tradition for the Pope to celebrate the Eucharist on Ash Wednesday at Santa Sabina in Rome – the headquarters of the Dominican Family. In his homily this year, Pope Francis reflected:

“Today we have been offered a sign that will help us find our direction: the head marked by ash. It is a sign that causes us to consider what occupies our mind. Our thoughts often focus on transient things, which come and go. The small mark of ash, which we will receive, is a subtle yet real reminder that of the many things occupying our thoughts, that we chase after and worry about every day, nothing will remain.”

“The culture of appearance prevalent today, which persuades us to live for passing things, is a great deception. It is like a blaze: once ended, only ash remains. Lent is the time to free ourselves from the illusion of chasing after dust. Lent is for rediscovering that we are created for the inextinguishable flame, not for ashes that immediately disappear…we should ask ourselves today: Where do I stand? Do I live for fire or for ash?”

Weekly Eucharist

Each Thursday at 8.00am our Chaplain Fr Kevin Toomey OP celebrates Eucharist with us in our College Chapel - students, staff, parents and members of the Siena community are always welcome. In coming weeks at this Eucharist we will also be blessing students and staff participating in the South African Immersion (21 March) and the Italy Language and Culture trip (28 March).

Activities Week

A reminder that Years 7 to 12 Activities Week will run in the final week of Term 1. This program is well planned and supports the learning and wellbeing of our students. We ask for your support in student attendance. Parents will receive individual year level notices next week.

Please note, the Year 9 Siena in the City program is a four day program, commencing on Tuesday, 2 April and concluding on Friday, 5 April.

Parent Teacher Interviews

The Parent Teacher Interviews are now open for bookings. There are two sessions available, on Thursday, 21 March and Thursday, 28 March from 4.00pm to 7.30pm in the gymnasium. We encourage you to review your daughter’s interim report beforehand, in order to address any questions you may have.

We look forward to meeting with you at these sessions.

Welcome to New Staff

Belinda Duncan, Head of Religious Education

Belinda commenced her role at Siena College towards the end of 2018 and we are thrilled to have her as part of the Siena family. Belinda teaches Years 7 and 11 English, Year 9 Religious Education and Year 12 Religion and Society. She graduated from Monash and ACU and is highly experienced, having taught for 18 years whilst having some breaks to travel and work in the agricultural sector.

One of her great loves is being in the outdoors; gardening, camping, or hiking.

Natalie Kinsella, Head of Student Wellbeing Dianella

Natalie comes to us from Presentation College Windsor where she fulfilled varied roles over an eight year period: Sport Coordinator, Health and PE Faculty Leader, Year 7 coordinator, Year 8 Coordinator and Head of House (Years 10-12 and Years 7-12). Natalie began her teaching career at St Aloysius College where she taught for three years.

In addition to her role of Head of Student Wellbeing Dianella, Natalie teaches Year 9 Physical Education, Year 11 Physical Education and Year 12 Health and Human Development.

Big Sister, Little Sister PJ Party

Coloured pyjamas, comfy slippers and broad smiles epitomised this year’s gathering. Year 12 Big Sisters welcomed their Year 7 Little Sisters into the College Gymnasium for a fun night of dancing, singing and general frivolity. This long-standing tradition is another highlight of the Transition Program for students at Siena College and one that both year levels will remember fondly.

This month on SchoolTV - Grief & Loss

Grief is a natural response to loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, relationship or even a pet. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief is likely to be. Children and adults grieve differently due to their developmental stage, and this can prove difficult for parents to understand.

Young children fluctuate in and out of the stages of grief rapidly, as they may not comprehend the permanency of death. They express their grief more physically. Teens on the other hand may not know how to express their grief and will need some space to process their loss. Some may choose to grieve alone, not wanting to stand out or be seen as not coping.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents can learn how to acknowledge their child’s feelings and the best way to support them through the grief.

If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information

I am pleased to announce Siena College will again be involved in the 2019 CASE (California Association for STEAM Education) Space School International Study Program. Through our partnerships in the USA, students have the unique opportunity to join this once in a lifetime experience, going inside NASA facilities and having hands on learning experiences in many other exclusive places.

This program is designed to develop leaders for the next generation and empower and prepare our girls for the fastest growing and most sought after occupations of the 21st century. Through the unique access to NASA facilities, inspiring guest speakers and training programs, students have reported becoming more focused and inquisitive to pursue the subjects they are interested in.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn beyond the classroom in the most inspiring environment. There is a one hour information session about this exciting opportunity to be held at the Susan Alberti Auditorium on Tuesday, 26 March (see image below for session times). We request that you complete the RSVP form, to ensure we have enough materials for all attendees. This is a once in a lifetime experience for your daughter and I encourage you to attend this evening information session.

Night of Jazz

This year for Siena’s Night of Jazz we are delighted to have Tamara Murphy as the special guest artist working with our students. Tamara is a versatile bassist and composer, known for her solid groove playing and lyrical solo ability. She performs regularly with many leading contemporary jazz and pop musicians in Australia. Tamara has also received numerous grants to record her music and studied in the US and Canada.

Siena’s Night of Jazz will feature our Stage Band, Sisters of Swing, Groove Train, Junior Jammers and soloists held on the 27 March at the Manningham Hotel. Our ensembles have been rehearsing very hard for this event and the upcoming Generations in Jazz Tour. Please click on the image below to book tickets.

Music Department Dates Fridge Magnets

This year we will be distributing our new Music Department Dates fridge magnets to students (one per family) at ensemble rehearsals. Students who may have missed out can collect one from the Music office. Please note some music dates including the Victorian School Music Festival dates, workshops and masterclasses have not been included because the dates were not available at the time of printing.

Instrumental Music Lessons

The Music department has been abuzz with excitement the past few weeks with new students attending their first Instrumental Music lessons. We have had students take up string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments along with voice, piano and guitar. The Junior Ensembles have all started rehearsing and we encourage families to be supportive as our young musicians set up their home learning routine. The joys of the first noises of music making should be enjoyed and remembered as they won’t last long. Parents are asked to support their daughters by reviewing the music diaries and taking an interest in their music

Any students who still wish to learn an instrument are asked to return their enrolment forms to the music office as soon as possible.

General Sport News

We are already looking towards Term 2 with students signing up to Senior Water Polo (one team), Hockey (three teams), Cross Country, AFL (six teams) and Netball (twenty-one teams). We will be organising fixtures, training venues and trials over the next three weeks and girls will be notified shortly.

Siena College was well represented at the GSV Preliminary Swimming at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Friday, 1 March with a number of strong individual diving and swimming performances. The teams have now been selected for the GSV Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships on Tuesday, 19 March at MSAC. Parents are more than welcome to come along and support their daughter. Swimming will take place between 8.00am to 12.00pm and Diving between 12.00pm to 3.45pm.

On Wednesday, 6 March, sixteen students from Siena College attended the Susan Alberti AFLW Breakfast, along with Principal Gaynor-Robson Garth and three other staff members. It was an inspiring and educational event, with the students meeting a number of high profile female athletes and personalities.

House Swimming Carnival

We had our Inter House Swimming and Diving Carnival at Boroondara Sports Complex on Friday, 8 March. With 680 girls signed up to participate in at least one event it was a fantastic day with Swimming, Ironwoman, Novelty, Diving for Fun and Competitive Diving events all on display. Congratulations to Dianella, our 2019 champions. Award winners are listed below. Many thanks to all involved with organising the carnival, a particular thanks to the House Captains for all their work behind the scenes.

Siena College 2019 House Swimming Carnival Winners

Category

Winner

House

Michelle Timms Race

Sienna Reidy

Dianella

Junior Ironwoman

Natalie Moraitis

Kurrajong

Senior Ironwoman

Stella Lawrence

Cassia

Year 7 Individual

Emma Ireland

Cassia

Year 8 Individual

Madeleine Castoldi

Kurrajong

Year 9 Individual

Natalie Moraitis

Kurrajong

Year 10 Individual

Stella Lawrence

Cassia

Year 11 Individual

Angelina Haj

Waratah

Year 12 Individual

Riley Khan

Waratah

Junior Competitive Diving

Zara Purcell

Cassia

Intermediate Competitive Diving

Meg Curtin

Dianella

Senior Competitive Diving

Matilda Baker

Kurrajong

Junior Aggregate House

N/A

Dianella

Intermediate Aggregate House

N/A

Cassia

Senior Aggregate House

N/A

Waratah

OVERALL HOUSE WINNER

Dianella

We wish to congratulate Anais Johnstone, who represented her local club, Nunawading, in the Victorian State Open Swimming Championships (15 to 17 February 2019, competing in three events) and the Tasmanian State Swimming Championships (7 to 11 March 2019, winning one gold and two silver medals). Anais has been working very hard to maintain a balance between her swimming training and her school commitments and it is testament to her that she continues to go from strength to strength in the water. We wish her all the best for the upcoming Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide (15 to 22 April 2019).

Siena College has begun touch rugby for Year 7s and 8s, run in partnership with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels Women’s team, providing the students with a non traditional, modified sport opportunity. Depending on student numbers, we are looking to expand the program into Term 2, 2019 onwards, with several tournaments and programs available.

Siena College’s Aerobics trials have been completed and we look forward to another successful year in Aerobics. Building on the success of last year, we hope to put together another strong squad to challenge at the States (Victoria) and the Nationals (Gold Coast) later in the year. More information will be communicated to parents and students involved shortly.

Siena College is asking for volunteers who would be willing to coach one of our many netball teams for Term 2, with matches on Mondays (Seniors), Wednesdays (Intermediates) and Thursdays (Juniors), training to be confirmed. In addition, we encourage parents to let us know if your daughter has achieved a remarkable sporting achievement of local, state or national significance. We find that many of the girls are modest in their achievements and are reluctant to let us know!

Finally, on Tuesday, March 19, there will be an information session for Siena College’s Sport Leadership Experience to the USA in 2020, hosted in the Susan Alberti Auditorium from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. The experience is open to all girls who will be in Years 10, 11 or 12 in 2020. Parents and Students have been emailed with additional information but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the tour.

Thank you for your continued support of sports programs at Siena College and please feel free to contact us at sport@siena.vic.edu.au if you have any questions at all.

Our Student Leaders have been busy participating in a number of events in recent weeks, including engaging in leadership development opportunities, networking with leaders from other scho...

Our Student Leaders have been busy participating in a number of events in recent weeks, including engaging in leadership development opportunities, networking with leaders from other schools, and representing Siena College at various community events and activities.

Sarah Murphy (Environment Leader) and Yasmyne Chung (Social Welfare Leader) attended the annual Student Leaders Forum, hosted by Josh Frydenberg, Federal Member for Kooyong. The focus of this year’s forum was on the environment, and provided our students the opportunity to compare sustainability strategies at different schools, and the efforts and outcomes of various student led initiatives. It was also a chance for our students to engage in discussion regarding the government’s views related to climate change and environmental degradation, and discuss current policy as well as future opportunities for Australia to address in relation to the conservation of our environment and natural resources.

A number of Year 12 Student Leaders represented Siena College at the annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, hosted by the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia.

The Siena College International Women’s Day Breakfast was held on Thursday, 7 March and the Siena College Student Leaders played in instrumental role in the planning and running of the event. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kopanang Community Trust to support their work in empowering the women in Tsakane, South Africa.

There will be a Year 7 and 8 Student Leadership Course commencing in Week 7. These workshops will focus on Leadership Skills in a Dominican Context, and Leadership at Siena College. Following the leadership course, participants will have the opportunity to apply for the positions of Student Leader at Years 7 and 8, joining the Siena College Leadership Team for 2019. Students may sign up for the course by contacting Ms Moody.

Reflections from our Student Leaders

On Friday 1 March, Yasmyne Chung (Veritas Leader – Social Justice) and I attended the Kooyong Environment Forum hosted by Josh Frydenberg (Federal MP for Kooyong and Treasurer of Australia) with other student leaders from selected schools in the district. The forum consisted of school groups delivering a short speech regarding their school’s initiatives towards the environment. Through listening to the other school’s views and ideas for preserving and sustaining the environment, we discovered new ways in which we can implement similar sustainable actions into our school. We thoroughly enjoyed the discussion and viewed it to be quite valuable in generating ideas for future sustainable practises at Siena College.

Sarah Murphy, Veritas Leader - Environment

On Monday 4 March, select Year 12 leaders from Siena had the privilege of attending the International Women’s Day Breakfast hosted by the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia. We attended the breakfast alongside other students from girls’ schools across Victoria. Guest speaker Catherine O’Sullivan gave an empowering address about the amazing work she does, dedicating her career to women’s leadership and education. Personally, I felt both captivated and inspired by the women celebrated at the event, and their achievements in empowering young women in Australia!

Niamh Hickey, Kurrajong House Leader

Siena College hosted its annual International Women’s Day Breakfast on Thursday, 7 March. This event provided an opportunity for members of the Siena College Community to gather together to celebrate the achievements of women, whilst acknowledging the work that has been done, and is yet to be done, in the journey towards a more gender balanced world. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kopanang Community Trust, to continue their work in empowering women from the Tsakane township in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Siena College has supported Refiloe Sibisi, daughter of Kopanang community member Joyce, through her tertiary studies for the past three years. Refiloe recently completed her studies and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Business in the coming months. During the breakfast, an interview between two of our Student Leaders and Refiloe Sibisi was shown, which allowed a greater insight into her life and experiences as she comes to the end of her tertiary education supported by Siena College. The interview demonstrated the power that education can have, and the privilege it is to be educated. Putting a face to the name and really understanding why we raise money through events like the IWD breakfast puts it into perspective that we are helping real people, and real change can be made through our collective efforts.

It was inspiring to hear from Siena College Alumna Ursula Harris, who works within the STEM field as a cartographer in Antarctica. She spoke about the tribulations she faced while working in a male dominated environment and how she saw the progression in attitudes towards women. It was fascinating to hear about Dr Harris' work and the way she handled testing situations with humour and determination was inspiring.

On Wednesday, 6 March all the Year 7s listened to a presentation by performance poet Joel McKerrow. He performed three of his poems highlighting different topics such as politics, self identity, self confidence and how he is proud to have red hair and how he loves himself because of his perfect imperfections. In one of his poems about politics he used a story about his son as a metaphor to represent how he wishes that world leaders wouldn’t hurt others.

Durinig his workshop, we learnt how he finds inspiration for his poems by using simple strategies such as flow of conscious writing, where you write about whatever you’re feeling or thinking. Another technique was creating a mind bank, where you write about the person that everyone else sees, and about a part of your personality that no one gets to see. You then find one of the phrases that you wrote down and write down whatever comes to mind when you think or imagine that particular word.

We feel that the workshop helped improve our poetic writing, and expanded our minds to use more diverse strategies when writing poems. We all enjoyed taking part in the workshop and listening to Joel’s ideas.

Twelve of our Year 8 Siena students participated in the Robogals Middle School Robotics Workshop and Competition...

Twelve of our Year 8 Siena students participated in the Robogals Middle School Robotics Workshop and Competition accompanied by Ms Libby Moore and Ms Marianne De Luise. This event took place on Wednesday, 27 February at the University of Melbourne. The day began with the students learning about robotic engineering and then working in teams to engage in a friendly competition. This event was designed to increase students’ awareness and knowledge of engineering, science and technology, as well as developing skills in communication, collaboration and critical thinking. The accounts below have been written by two of the attending students and capture the excitement and learning that took place on the day.

Student Reflections

I absolutely loved my day at Robogals. I really enjoyed learning about all of the aspects of engineering and how to code robots. Before Robogals, I didn’t know how many things in our world today are included in an area of engineering, and that really opened my mind up to all of the career paths you can have as an engineer. I really liked using the ultrasonic sensors, which sense objects in front of the robot, as it was really cool to see robots navigate their way through obstacle courses. Overall, it was an amazing day and we all learnt lots about coding and engineering.Jessica Higgins

Robogals was a fantastic opportunity and I really appreciated learning about all the different types of engineering, and the skills you would need to code robots. I learnt how engineering is applied in our everyday lives and how important it is. Engineering makes our world function better, safer and makes our lives easier such as a bridge or a tunnel. Thanks to Robogals I now have a different insight into how things work and how things are designed and made. After this experience I think engineering might be something I would like to consider as a career option.Emma Brunton

The Year 7 students had a wonderful opportunity to experience and participate in the annual chess incursion on Wednesday 27 February, organised by the Learning Enhancement Department.

The Year 7 students had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the annual chess incursion on Wednesday, 27 February organised by the Learning Enhancement Department. Chess coaches Vanya, Denise, Nikayla and Chelsea from Dark Horse Chess, taught the girls how to play and some clever strategies of the game.

After the initial welcome and introduction to the coaches, each student was placed into a group based on her level of experience and expertise in playing chess. All levels of ability were represented, from absolute first-time beginners to advanced chess strategists. In their groups, the students worked with one of the four Dark Horse staff to learn more about the game, to become familiar with and practise the different moves of each chess piece and to apply some clever strategies when playing.

The Year 7 students enjoyed the day immensely and after the sessions, many girls were able to say that they had learnt something new about how to play the game. Some of the skills that learning chess helps to develop are:

Pattern visualization

Patience

Memory

Abstract reasoning

Originality and creativity

Awareness of the consequences of actions

Confidence and self-esteem

Concentration and focus

Self discipline

Planning

Problem solving

Siena also offers all students the opportunity to join the Chess Club, which meets every Wednesday at lunchtime in the Learning Centre.Club members benefit from the support of Denise, a staff member of Dark Horse Chess.Denise attends each week during the term, coaching and encouraging the students to build upon and practise their skills, regardless of level. Those students who attend may have the opportunity to participate in chess tournaments at other schools to further enhance their chess skills. It is also a wonderful opportunity to see the girls from all year levels enjoy each other’s company and to play against each other.

This week’s Siena Career News features some school holiday activities at a few of the universities that students in Years 10-12 may want to get involved in. Spending a day on the univers...

This week’s Siena Career News features some school holiday activities at a few of the universities that senior students may be interested in. Spending a day on the university campus, attending lectures, chatting to staff and students can be really helpful when deciding which university or tertiary course is for you.

If you love fashion, Box Hill Institute has a workshop on fashion illustration in the school holidays. Latrobe University is giving secondary school students the opportunity to participate in three sessions of the students choosing. Session included are Biomedicine, Criminology, Health Science, Nursing/Midwifery, Sport Science, Occupational Therapy, Paramedicine, Archaeology or Law to name a few. There are also sessions for parents to attend.

Monash University are promoting new videos in which students of Medicine, Biomedical Science and Nursing discuss their chosen tertiary course and explain what a typical day involves.

There is also an article on careers in Forensic Science and where a Bachelor of Criminology can take you. If students or parents would like to discuss any of the news items in more detail, please feel free to contact the Careers Office.

Siena College was named winner of the Eastern Region at The Age 'Schools that Excel' awards ceremony on Wednesday, 27 March.

Siena College was named winner of the Eastern Region at The Age 'Schools that Excel' awards ceremony on Wednesday, 27 March. Principal Gaynor Robson-Garth and Deputy Principal Bernadette Donnelly were thrilled to accept the award, which celebrates the achievements of ten Victorian secondary schools that have shown consistent academic growth over the past decade.

Our School Captains are featured in the Leader News, sharing what their generation will contribute to the future.

Our School Captains are featured in the Leader News, sharing what their generation will contribute to the future. You can collect a copy of the Leader News here

Jade Devlin, 18

Our world is a turbulent place in a constant state of change, from our future jobs to the climate. Our generation will have to face challenges never seen before with the proliferation of technology. So, how do we make a lasting impact? We can start by restoring humanity to our world. This can be done by becoming engaged in our world and focusing on the greater good. We can start by consoling someone on a bad day, supporting equal rights or picking up a piece of litter.

Charlotte Lack, 17

Our generation is an era ruled by technology, constant curiosity and bold ideas and aspirations. I believe that our generation is a conscientious, hardwokring and pragmatic age group who are truly passionate about social activism and standing up for what they believe in. I feel that Generation Z can truly help advance our world as a whole, developing new cures for diseases thought previously untreatable, continuing to minimise the gender pay gap and creating and sustaining a renewable, ecological society. All due to the desire and passion to create, help and mend out fragmented world.

Siena College has been nominated in the inaugural 'Schools that Excel' Age awards, which celebrate the achievements of ten Victorian secondary schools that have shown consistent academic ...

Siena College has been nominated in the inaugural 'Schools that Excel' Age awards, which celebrate the achievements of ten Victorian secondary schools that have shown consistent academic growth over the past decade.

We are however very concerned at the impression given in The Age this morning that Siena College has abolished books and library services. We have transformed our library into a learning centre that continues to offer all library services to our students and staff, including a significant collection of fiction and non fiction books. Our valued staff, especially our library technicians support the ongoing resourcing of our community. Learning possibilities, including the classic library offerings, have expanded learning options, not diminished them.

In relation to comments about detention, we see no educative value in punitive measures at Siena College. We have been an accredited Restorative Practices school for many years.

Siena Spirit was on spectacular display yesterday morning at the Fun Run! The weather and the atmosphere was superb, with participants competing in the 4km Fun Run or the 4km Colour Run. Congratulations to all race participants and thank you to the many volunteers on the day, including the Siena Parents' Association (SPA) who hosted the fabulous food/drink stalls.

Questions about uniforms and dress codes continue to be controversial and there are diverse views as to the need for a uniform as well as differing interpretations of guidelines about how...

Questions about uniforms and dress codes continue to be controversial and there are diverse views as to the need for a uniform as well as differing interpretations of guidelines about how a uniform should be worn.

Since its inception in 1940, Siena students have worn a school uniform and sports uniforms in various styles and colours from lemon bloomers for sport to blue and green plaid netball skirts. The one constant has been the rust coloured blazer which persists until today. The rust colour was chosen by the Dominican Sisters to reflect the rust coloured soils in Siena in Tuscany, Italy where St Catherine was born.

Our current College uniform was introduced in 2013 and welcomed by staff and students. It has generally been worn proudly and well, and has been the subject of complimentary feedback from members of the wider community.

In all schools, students seek to express their individuality creatively and sometimes, in ways which are not in keeping with the way the uniform is intended to be worn. I recall a story I heard on talkback radio of a boy who unpicked the crest on his blazer pocket, a Bishop’s mitre (hat), and replaced it with a skull and cross bones which was never noticed throughout his years at secondary school.

For teachers, having to monitor uniform is a tedious and thankless task, as it is for parents who endeavour to support the school when they say goodbye to their daughters in the morning. You may be amused by the excerpt from a 1969 Siena College newsletter below that indicates that nothing much has changed in relation to managing uniform transgressions, although our current approach has moved on from these times. We no longer aim to be quite so prescriptive about what an appropriate dress or skirt length might be!

We have worked hard to raise the profile of Siena College in the wider community and students’ grooming and presentation plays a big part. Recent communication about dress length and other aspects of the College uniform is not new and the uniform guidelines/rules have been unchanged for some years. We are aware however that greater consistency is needed in applying the uniform expectations so that all students are treated fairly and respectfully and the same expectations applied to all. I am asking for the support of all students, staff and parents, to ensure that the uniform is worn appropriately and that students are well groomed. We would prefer to focus our time and resources on our core business of education and the more important matters that are part of life at Siena College. I am most grateful to all students and parents who have responded to our requests.

The term is now well underway as is GSV Sport. Over the past weekend, fifty-five girls participated in the GSV Triathlon in Altona. Catherine Ryan completed her first triathlon last year and by talking about her own experiences and encouraging the girls to take on this challenge, we have seen an enormous increase in participation. Catherine inspired the girls and exceeded even her own expectations of how many students would compete on the day. Head of Sport, James Houghton reported how wonderful it was to see so many Siena College parents supporting the girls. Our students represented the College well, showing great enthusiasm and encouragement of each other. Thank you to James and Catherine for working with the Siena team. The girls are already talking about the triathlon in 2020!

I enjoyed watching our swimmers at the Genazzano Swim Meet on a warm Friday afternoon. Siena placed third and once again, the traditional team spirit was very evident. We are looking forward to the Siena Swimming Carnival on 8 March.

It is lovely to hear music around the College in the mornings as the various ensembles and bands rehearse and the renamed Albertus Magnus Library that is now a Learning Centre, is a hive of activity. Monday is fast becoming a day for games in that space and I look forward to hearing of our students’ travels to NASA and the US Space Centre when they share their experiences in the Learning Centre later this week. It is lovely to see so many students participating in co-curricular activities.

Tuesday Professional Practice Time

Due to the success of this 2018 initiative, the Professional Practice Sessions will continue this year. During these sessions, we will cover the range of 2019 whole school priorities, including implementing a Siena Pedagogical model through our Professional Learning, Student Wellbeing Professional Learning, Strategic Planning and Dominican Education Professional Learning. As a result, each Tuesday all students will commence the day with House Group at 8.35am and will be dismissed at 2:30pm. The College buses will depart from Siena around 2:35pm. If a student has a College commitment after school (such as the College Musical), they will be able to study in the library. Year 12 students who complete private study in the Year 12 St Catherine’s Centre may continue to use that space as usual, however, all other students are expected to return home.

Staff have been very involved in the four professional practice sessions that we have run this term. In the first session, House Group teachers worked on a more consistent approach to the expectations and running of House Group. The second session was an introduction to the review process that the College will undertake this year (using the ACER National School Improvement Tool). The third session focused on using relevant and current student data to inform teaching practices and the fourth session was a presentation from Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) who led us through an understanding of working with our indigenous students.

Our staff are working with great enthusiasm and commitment to ensure our learning and teaching is fresh, dynamic and relevant and effectively engaging our students. Our focus continues to be on ways to share our learning and to benefit student learning.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Years 7 to 12 Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, 21 March and Thursday, 28 March between 4.00pm and 7.30pm in the Latingata Morrom Gymnasium. Parents will receive an email when Online Bookings are available, as well as instructions on how to download and print the Interim report. The Interim report will provide information regarding the subject, classroom learning indicators and number of days absent.

Please be aware that there are no comments on formal reports as parents receive comments linked to assessment tasks throughout the semester.

As Parent/Teacher Conferences are an important opportunity to develop a working and supportive relationship between subject teachers, parents and students, we believe that it is essential that the student attend. This allows the student to share their learning experience and participate in the conversation about their subject expectations.

Activities Week

Year 7 to 12 Activities week will take place from 3 April to 5 April. This program is well planned and supports the learning and wellbeing of our students. We ask for your support in student attendance. Year 7 students will attend their Year 7 Camp, Year 8, 10 and 11 students will be involved in a variety of activities run from Siena, and Year 12 students will be on retreat. The Year 9 Siena in the City program is a four day program, commencing on Tuesday April 2 and concluding on April 5. Parents will receive individual year level notices in the weeks to follow.

New Staff

Every year we have a number of new staff beginning at Siena College and I would like to introduce some of them over the next few newsletter editions.

Welcome to Dean Fleisher, Head of Languages

I was born in Montpellier, in the south of France and moved to Japan in 2001, then came to Australia seven years ago, in 2012. I teach the French language to junior and senior classes at Siena College. I have taught in many institutions, beginning my career teaching French in language schools in Japan in 2001. I was an Assistant Language Teacher in Fudooka High School (Saitama, Japan) from 2005 to 2010, then worked as a French teacher for two international schools in Tokyo (St Mary’s International School and The British School in Tokyo) from 2010 to 2012. From 2013 to 2018, I taught French and Japanese at St Monica’s College, in Epping, where I was also a Year Level Leader. I have about seventeen years of teaching experience.

Basketball has been my passion since a very young age, and I have been coaching basketball for twenty-one years. I look forward to contributing to the sport here at Siena. I am also the father of two sporty children who keep me busy with their training and competitions.

Welcome to Andrea Carter, Leader of Pedagogy and Mathematics Teacher

Andrea studied teaching at the University of Melbourne and began her career in 1991 at Eltham College in Research as a full time teacher of Mathematics to students in Year 7 to Year 12. After five years Andrea took up a Mathematics position at Camberwell Girls Anglican School and then joined the staff as Head of Mathematics at Damascus College in Ballarat. After a five year term as Head of Mathematics at Korowa Girls Anglican School in Glen Iris, Andrea has joined us at Siena College as a Leader of Pedagogy and a Mathematics teacher. With approximately twenty years of experience in all the Mathematics streams, across all senior school year levels, Andrea brings with her a passion and love for teaching driven by a desire to make a difference in students’ lives.

Andrea is also an avid opera fan who enjoys orchestral and chamber music. Gardening, swimming and walking are some of her many interests. She values time with her family and the opportunity to travel.

The beginning of Lent will be marked at Siena by prayer services in each House led by senior House Captains.

Ash Wednesday

The beginning of Lent will be marked at Siena by prayer services in each House led by senior House Captains. The Prayer Service comprises a Gospel Reading, Prayers of the People, distribution of ashes blessed at St Dominic’s and the launch of our 2019 Caritas Project Compassion campaign – Give Lent 100%. All House Groups will be given a Project Compassion box which students can use to collect funds across Lent to support aid and development projects in Zimbabwe, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Find out more about Project Compassion here.

Lent

During the season of Lent our tradition asks us to fast from something… Technology perhaps? Try this doable Lenten Carbon Fast.There is a current encouraging trend to take up something as well as give up something during Lent: taking action on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, becoming better informed about a social issue, undertaking a random act of kindness, volunteering your time...

Ask yourself: What does Lent and the approach of Autumn mean to me?How can I tap into these annual rhythms in my personal, family and professional life?

Engaging Student Voice at Siena College

At Siena College we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our College. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel. (Siena Child Safe Policy, 2017)

Child safety remains a fundamental priority at Siena College and is central to all activities and programs. Creating child safe school environments is a shared responsibility requiring the engagement of students, teachers, families and the broader school community. In Catholic schools, a ‘child safe culture’ is nurtured through an environment where children are respected, their voices are heard, and they are supported to feel safe and be safe (Moore et al. 2015).

There are two significant projects that I will be working on with groups of students this year. The first one will seek student input on their understanding of Child Safe Standards with a view to exploring students’ perceptions of safety, including their understanding of existing processes and what they feel should be done to respond to safety issues. Students from Years 7 – 12 will be invited to participate in this forum in Term 1. This will then form the basis of a Siena College Student Safety document that will reflect the voices of our students and inform our practice.

Siena College has also been invited to participate in research which is being conducted by Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM) in partnership with the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University (ACU). It is designed to enable schools to gather the perceptions of students regarding their safety. You may be aware that a vital component of safe environments is the active participation of young people in building school cultures that are respectful and inclusive. In such an environment young people feel comfortable to communicate their views and concerns and actively contribute to school strategies and decisions about their safety. Two year levels will be surveyed before the end of Term 2 and I look forward to sharing the learnings from these two projects with the Siena College community.

I am pleased to announce Siena College will again be involved in the 2019 CASE (California Association for STEAM Education) Space School International Study Program.

I am pleased to announce Siena College will be involved in the 2019 CASE (California Association for STEAM Education) Space School International Study Program. Through our partnerships in the USA, students have the unique opportunity to join this once in a lifetime experience, going inside NASA facilities and having hands on learning experiences in many other exclusive places.

This program is designed to develop leaders for the next generation and empower and prepare our girls for the fastest growing and most sought after occupations of the 21st century. Through the unique access to NASA facilities, inspiring guest speakers and training programs, students have reported becoming more focused and inquisitive to pursue the subjects they are interested in.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn beyond the classroom in the most inspiring environment. There is a one hour information session about this exciting opportunity to be held at the Susan Alberti Auditorium on Tuesday, 26 March (see image below for session times). We request that you complete the RSVP form, to ensure we have enough materials for all attendees. This is a once in a lifetime experience for your daughter and I encourage you to attend this evening information session.

Student Learning at SienaIn conjunction with our Siena College Learning Framework, Siena Central provides the opportunity for both students and parents to engage with the classroom learn...

Student Learning at Siena

In conjunction with our Siena College Learning Framework, Siena Central provides the opportunity for both students and parents to engage with the classroom learning. Parent access to their daughter’s subject class pages enables direct access to daily classroom learning and home learning tasks. On the class pages, parents and students can also access the Student Overview. The Student Overview outlines all unit topics and key assessment dates and is a useful tool in assisting students to develop strong organisation skills.

Home Learning at Siena College

All Year 7 Parents and Guardians received an email this week regarding the commencement of Home Learning. The email included the Year 7 Academic Calendar, which can also be accessed via the Siena Central Parent Portal and on Siena Central Student Zone. This calendar is a useful tool in assisting your daughter with her transition into Siena and developing time management skills. The following is a guide per year level regarding the amount of time that students should spend on home learning:

We are receiving several emails and calls a day with parents unable to login to the Siena Central Portal to update "My Details" and so forth. Often, parents report that they are able to login to Siena Central but then get a white screen when proceeding into My Details, Finance tabs etc.

Most issues are caused by old, outdated devices, unsupported browsers and parents using auto login which has saved their child’s details.

Update My Details, Finance and Payment Plans use an advanced authentication method to check the user’s details for permission. Your device will need the following minimum requirements to access these services.

PC’s Windows 10 operating system, with the latest version of Google Chrome.

Internet Explorer and Windows Edge are not support browsers.

Apple Mac MacOS Mojave with the latest version of Safari or Google chrome.

IPad IOS 12

Stable Wi-Fi connection

If your device meets these minimum requirements and the web browser does not load, try these solutions.

1. Use Google Chrome or Safari web browsers to login to Siena Central.2. Clear the browsing history, close all tabs, close the browser and restart your device. 3. Login manually with your supplied parent user details, this insures that the browser does not try and automatically sign in with a previously used student Siena Central Account. 4. Use incognito or private browsing modes if the computer is shared with family members.

Junior (Years 7 and 8) and Intermediate (Years 9 and 10) sport commenced last week for Softball, Indoor Cricket and Tennis. Senior (Year 11 and 12) girls have continued their unbeaten run with two wins from 2two outings in all sports!

The Swimming and Diving teams have been training twice a week since the beginning of term including participating in a number of practice meets at Genazzano, Ruyton and Korowa. The girls are well prepared for the Preliminary GSV Carnival at MSAC this Friday. We wish all girls the best of luck and hope for a strong result to place us in a good position for the GSV Championships in two weeks time.

Siena College participated in the GSV Triathlon in Altona last Sunday morning. Usually we have around six or seven girls sign up however this year we had a record number of fifty girls! Many of the girls were participating in their first ever triathlon. The nervous faces on the bus at 5.30am soon turned into smiles as they felt a sense of accomplishment after their race. Many thanks to Ms Catherine Ryan for all her work behind the scenes organising the girls and encouraging them to take on this fantastic opportunity. We have attached some photos of the triathlon to this article.

Last weekend Teah Wilson (Year 7) competed in the Eastern Metropolitan Region championships for shot put and won gold! This is a fantastic achievement and Teah has now been selected to compete at the State Championships later this year. She has also been selected to be mentored by Australian Olympic Swimmer, Mack Horton which she is very excited about.

Parents and students are encouraged to regularly check the Siena Central Sport page for the latest updates on fixtures, training and team selection. I email the girls prior to each week outlining venues, bus times and staffing for training and matches.

Thank you very much for your support of the sport program at Siena College.

The year has started well with all year levels involved in learning new material and consolidation from last year.

The year has started well with all year levels involved in learning new material and consolidation from last year. Our newest students, the Year 7 cohort, have had a very positive start. They have started the year involved in a variety of concepts in geometry, with a number of activities have helped to solidify some of the concepts being covered in class. The girls have discovered angles around the school and have explored the relationships in perpendicular and parallel lines. The girls have enjoyed doing Kahoots as a way of revising ideas covered in class. Home learning will be starting this week and I am sure that the girls are looking forward to this.

At the other end of the school spectrum the Year 12 students have started well and are working hard in collaboration with their teachers. All classes are focused on ensuring the girls develop good study techniques with opportunities for consistent revision.

Maths Help is being well supported and we would love to see more girls come along on Tuesdays at lunch time in B115 to receive help with questions, complete their homework in a supported environment or just have a slightly different explanation of concepts that are being covered.

We look forward to continuing working with our students and all parents this year.

Three easy steps to online ordering at Siena College Canteen

2. Before you can start ordering Login to your secure portal, add Students, top up your account

3. Placing an order To place an order, follow these steps: Select a student, enter or select the date, click on Start Order button, select from menu options Collect your order at lunchtime from the priority lunch order pick up.

Skills for Learning is a subject offered only at Year 7, aimed at helping our students settle into secondary school.

Skills for Learning is a subject offered only at Year 7, aimed at helping our students settle into secondary school. It is a unique subject that has a weekly or fortnightly focus on different areas of student development including the introduction and evolution of growth mindsets, virtual tours through our learning platform Siena Central and recently an emphasis on the appropriate online behaviour expected by Siena students.

At Siena College we understand that making social connections is a part of growing up. Research by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner shows that young people see connecting to others as the most important benefit of using social media. It takes time to practice and develop the skill of connecting with others, both online and offline.

In Skills for Learning we have discussed building our social and emotional skills to help us stay safe online. These include responding respectfully, taking responsibility for our individual presence online and taking action by reporting negativity to the relevant Head of Student Wellbeing.

Siena College does not allow students to be on their phones whilst they are on campus. Phones must be kept in student lockers at all times throughout the school day and will be confiscated if they are viewed by staff at an inappropriate time, including at recess or lunchtime.

We thank all parents for their patience as we completed the convent building works. From Monday, 4 March the driveway will be reopened for parent access. As always, please ensure your a...

We thank all parents for their patience as we completed the convent building works. From Monday, 4 March the driveway will be reopened for parent access. As always, please ensure your are not parked in the designated bus bays.

It has been a busy start to the year for the Siena careers office. With several rounds of VTAC offers now rolling out over February, last year’s Year 12s have decisions to make about tertiary cours...

It has been a busy start to the year for Siena Careers. With several rounds of VTAC offers now rolling out over February, last year’s Year 12s have decisions to make about tertiary courses that require careful consideration and discussion. We wish the Class of 2018 every success in the next step of their career journey and look forward to hearing their stories at a future Siena Careers Showcase.

I have been meeting with the current Year 12s to chat about what their career goals are and how we can best support them and provide them with the tools and resources required to make a good choice later in the year.

Parents are welcome to make an appointment with their daughter to discuss tertiary options and career pathways. The best way to organise this is via the Siena Careers website www.sienacareers.com.au -appointment bookings are listed under the 'For Students' tab.

The latest edition of Siena Career News features information on the National Youth Science Forum. This is a fabulous experience for current Year 11s to apply for. The NYSF is a twelve day residential program in Canberra where students have the opportunity to experience a tertiary institution, speak to academics and university students and participate in a variety of STEAM workshops with students from schools around Australia.

Also in this week’s Siena Career News, GAP year applications with the Australian Defence Force are now open for current Year 12 students. Experience military training and lifestyle, gain new skills and get paid! There are a variety of jobs available.

Monash University was the most popular tertiary destination for our Class of 2018. The 'Inside Monash' course information sessions commence shortly, dates are listed in Siena Career News.

But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob; he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.' Isaiah 43: 1

We began the year at Siena, ‘Called by Name’, each one of us known and loved by God, and in the words of Cardinal Henry John Newman, each of us called to some service not committed to anyone else.

Welcome to the 2019 school year. I extend a special welcome to all who join Siena College for the first time, new students and families and all our new staff. Antonella Rosati joined the Siena community as Deputy Principal Wellbeing. Antonella brings extensive leadership experience and new insights to the role, having worked at Presentation College Windsor for the past eighteen years, the last ten years in the role of Deputy Principal.

We are blessed to have a Dominican Sister on staff again in Semester 1. Sr Sheila Flynn OP has taken on the role of Director of Formation and will work with staff and students to share her deep appreciation and understanding of Dominican spirituality and prepare and accompany students and staff on the South African Immersion in April. Sr Sheila is well known to many in our community and brings her gifts of poetry and the creative arts, her deep commitment to justice and her experiences and stories of her years spent with the Kopanang community in South Africa, working with women and children trapped in endemic poverty.

At the start of the year, Sr Sheila described St Dominic’s vision as ‘a vision of the radically new, democratic and communitarian, thriving on sharing and shearing, letting go of what no longer works, holding on to what is of value, being prepared to take risks.’ From its very beginnings, the Dominican tradition meant that no one was appointed to leadership forever. 2019 will be my final year as Principal of Siena College. It is now time for me to let go, to look to new ways to contribute and serve, and time for new vision at Siena College. The past twelve years have been a graced and privileged time. I have learned much, formed lifelong friendships and I have been much enriched through the relationships, the professional opportunities, the faith community I am a part of and the charism and framework of Dominican values that I have come to love. I have worked with wonderful colleagues and students and been privileged to share in the lives of many families. From the beginning, I have been humbled by the trust placed in me as a very new and inexperienced Principal.

I continue to be excited by all the opportunities that this year offers. I will do all I can to ensure that Siena College is well placed for the next Principal and to support the Board and the school community in the transition to new leadership. I thank all who have sent messages and good wishes and have claimed honorary membership of the ‘Class of 2019’.

We begin the year with much to celebrate, outstanding VCE results, new ideas to implement, new roles and new vision. In 2019, we launch a new five year Strategic Plan, we begin the next phase of Master Planning and undergo an external School Review in May that offers great opportunities. The review will be based on a National School Improvement Tool (NSIT), developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research. We continue to aim for best practice to enhance our students’ learning and wellbeing and the NSIT will provide leverage for growth, building on our already excellent achievements. It will provide great impetus for the next steps and real pointers to a way forward based on international research.

In 2019, our improvement agenda is underpinned by four strategic priorities. We will give particular focus to the following:

Strengthening students’ and parents’ connectedness to the College

Endeavouring to ensure learning growth for all of the students all of the time

Authentically engaging, promoting and responding to student voice

Enhancing our capacity to use data confidently to inform best practice

We look forward to acknowledging the high achievers in the 2018 VCE at our first College assembly on Wednesday, 20 February. The 2018 VCE results reflect team work and an ongoing strategic intent to enhance our students’ learning and wellbeing outcomes. The College maintained a top five ranking across all Catholic schools based on the median Study Score of 34 and 17.5% of Study Scores of 40 or above. While we celebrate the outstanding VCE results of 2018 we are here to educate in a much broader sense, for the young women of Siena College to find meaning and purpose and to contribute to a better world. I hope you enjoy reading the publication that will be distributed in the next few weeks, celebrating the achievements of Siena students in 2018.

The Convent refurbishment is almost complete. The spaces look even more beautiful than before and a new Board Room and Heritage Centre will be much used in years to come for community gatherings and celebrations. The building and the refurbishment honours the Dominican Sisters on whose shoulders we stand, their vision and commitment and the generations of Siena women who have graduated since the College was established in 1940.

It was lovely to celebrate the start of Year 12 with the Class of 2019 and their families, and to wish them a wonderful year. The committed and generous parents of the Siena Parents’ Association (SPA) invest much in supporting the College and in developing a strong sense of community through the many events that they host over the year, including this breakfast and the forthcoming evenings for parents.

Our Commencement Mass in St Dominic’s church was a prayerful occasion to welcome our new Year 7s and their parents, and the 2019 student leaders and their families. I thank all the students who have taken on leadership roles for their commitment to service.

The calendar is full of community events in March, the welcome evening for Year 7 parents on 1 March, the International Women’s Day breakfast in the Susan Alberti Auditorium on 7 March, the Siena Fun Run at Wattle Park on 24 March, and Siena’s Night of Jazz on 27 March. We look forward to a great year of learning and celebration and hope you will join us on many occasions as the year unfolds.

But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob; he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.' Isaiah 43: 1

We began the year at Siena, ‘Called by Name’, each one of us known and loved by God, and in the words of Cardinal Henry John Newman, each of us called to some service not committed to anyone else.

Welcome to the 2019 school year. I extend a special welcome to all who join Siena College for the first time, new students and families and all our new staff. Antonella Rosati joined the Siena community as Deputy Principal Wellbeing. Antonella brings extensive leadership experience and new insights to the role, having worked at Presentation College Windsor for the past eighteen years, the last ten years in the role of Deputy Principal.

We are blessed to have a Dominican Sister on staff again in Semester 1. Sr Sheila Flynn OP has taken on the role of Director of Formation and will work with staff and students to share her deep appreciation and understanding of Dominican spirituality and prepare and accompany students and staff on the South African Immersion in April. Sr Sheila is well known to many in our community and brings her gifts of poetry and the creative arts, her deep commitment to justice and her experiences and stories of her years spent with the Kopanang community in South Africa, working with women and children trapped in endemic poverty.

At the start of the year, Sr Sheila described St Dominic’s vision as ‘a vision of the radically new, democratic and communitarian, thriving on sharing and shearing, letting go of what no longer works, holding on to what is of value, being prepared to take risks.’ From its very beginnings, the Dominican tradition meant that no one was appointed to leadership forever. 2019 will be my final year as Principal of Siena College. It is now time for me to let go, to look to new ways to contribute and serve, and time for new vision at Siena College. The past twelve years have been a graced and privileged time. I have learned much, formed lifelong friendships and I have been much enriched through the relationships, the professional opportunities, the faith community I am a part of and the charism and framework of Dominican values that I have come to love. I have worked with wonderful colleagues and students and been privileged to share in the lives of many families. From the beginning, I have been humbled by the trust placed in me as a very new and inexperienced Principal.

I continue to be excited by all the opportunities that this year offers. I will do all I can to ensure that Siena College is well placed for the next Principal and to support the Board and the school community in the transition to new leadership. I thank all who have sent messages and good wishes and have claimed honorary membership of the ‘Class of 2019’.

We begin the year with much to celebrate, outstanding VCE results, new ideas to implement, new roles and new vision. In 2019, we launch a new five year Strategic Plan, we begin the next phase of Master Planning and undergo an external School Review in May that offers great opportunities. The review will be based on a National School Improvement Tool (NSIT), developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research. We continue to aim for best practice to enhance our students’ learning and wellbeing and the NSIT will provide leverage for growth, building on our already excellent achievements. It will provide great impetus for the next steps and real pointers to a way forward based on international research.

In 2019, our improvement agenda is underpinned by four strategic priorities. We will give particular focus to the following:

Strengthening students’ and parents’ connectedness to the College

Endeavouring to ensure learning growth for all of the students all of the time

Authentically engaging, promoting and responding to student voice

Enhancing our capacity to use data confidently to inform best practice

We look forward to acknowledging the high achievers in the 2018 VCE at our first College assembly on Wednesday, 20 February. The 2018 VCE results reflect team work and an ongoing strategic intent to enhance our students’ learning and wellbeing outcomes. The College maintained a top five ranking across all Catholic schools based on the median Study Score of 34 and 17.5% of Study Scores of 40 or above. While we celebrate the outstanding VCE results of 2018 we are here to educate in a much broader sense, for the young women of Siena College to find meaning and purpose and to contribute to a better world. I hope you enjoy reading the publication that will be distributed in the next few weeks, celebrating the achievements of Siena students in 2018.

The Convent refurbishment is almost complete. The spaces look even more beautiful than before and a new Board Room and Heritage Centre will be much used in years to come for community gatherings and celebrations. The building and the refurbishment honours the Dominican Sisters on whose shoulders we stand, their vision and commitment and the generations of Siena women who have graduated since the College was established in 1940.

It was lovely to celebrate the start of Year 12 with the Class of 2019 and their families, and to wish them a wonderful year. The committed and generous parents of the Siena Parents’ Association (SPA) invest much in supporting the College and in developing a strong sense of community through the many events that they host over the year, including this breakfast and the forthcoming evenings for parents.

Our Commencement Mass in St Dominic’s church was a prayerful occasion to welcome our new Year 7s and their parents, and the 2019 student leaders and their families. I thank all the students who have taken on leadership roles for their commitment to service.

The calendar is full of community events in March, the welcome evening for Year 7 parents on 1 March, the International Women’s Day breakfast in the Susan Alberti Auditorium on 7 March, the Siena Fun Run at Wattle Park on 24 March, and Siena’s Night of Jazz on 27 March. We look forward to a great year of learning and celebration and hope you will join us on many occasions as the year unfolds.

2019 College Theme: Called By Name

Our College theme has at its heart this reading from the Book of Isaiah:

But now, says the Lord – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine”. (Isaiah 43:1)

Every member of our Siena College Community is known and loved by God, when we are called, God is saying 'I am listening to you and you alone – turn towards me and tell me your story'.

Commencement Eucharist

On the evening of Tuesday 12 February, Year 7 students, 2019 student leaders, staff and parents gathered at St Dominic’s Church to ask God’s blessing on the year ahead. In a real spirit of joy and community we welcomed our enthusiastic Year 7s and commissioned our Year 9-12 Siena College leaders. Heartfelt thanks to the choir members, musicians, readers, procession people, Eucharistic Ministers and all those who shaped or led an element of the Eucharist. We are also grateful to our College Chaplain Fr Kevin Toomey OP for generously joining us to preside at our celebration.

Marking the National Apology

To mark the eleventh anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations our College took part in a communal House Group Prayer. Led by FIRE Carriers Hayley Di Stefano and Niamh Hickey alongside Veritas Leader - Social Justice, Sabrina Pittorino we recalled the significance of the day and prayed for harmony and reconciliation in our land. With alarming statistics released recently indicating a rise in racism among Australians, it was a salutary reminder of the part each one of us can play in working toward a more just and hope filled future for all.

Welcome back to the 2019 academic year and a warm welcome to all of our new students and families.

Welcome back to the 2019 academic year and a warm welcome to all of our new students and families. I am pleased to introduce the Senior Learning Leaders who are responsible for leading learning in our College in 2019:

Marissa Joyce Head of EnglishLaine Rice Head of Health and Physical EducationAssimina Semertjis Head of ScienceClaire Al-Noah Head of the Arts and TechnologyPaul Failla Head of MathematicsJemimah Walsh Head of HumanitiesMichael Petrie Head of Senior PathwaysBelinda Duncan Head of Religious EducationDean Fleischer Head of LanguagesAnsalie Hanrahan Head of Learning Enhancement

You are welcome to contact any of the Heads of Learning (mentioned above) but as always, your first point of contact for curriculum related matters should be the subject teacher. It is essential that we continue to develop open and transparent communication and if possible, contact your daughter’s subject teacher earlier rather than later, if you perceive there to be a concern.

Siena Central

All new parents and guardians will have received their login name and password for Siena Central. If a parent or guardian needs further assistance to log on to Siena Central via the website, please contact ithelp@siena.vic.edu.au. Please engage with your daughter about her learning and in particular, regularly access your daughter’s class pages to gain an indication of the learning that is taking place.

Year 12 Learning Conversations

Year 12 students require an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) for entry into many undergraduate entry university programs in Australia. This year we will again run the Year 12 Learning Conversations. This program provides an opportunity for the student to share a learning conversation with a senior member of staff about their academic goals, strategies that may assist in their learning and finally to develop a 2019 Action Plan with a focus on improvement. Year 12 students will also estimate an ATAR based on their Year 11 Semester 2 Examination results. The Year 12 students will receive the relevant documents and an ATAR calculator program so that they can spend some time reflecting on their Year 11 achievements and prepare for their learning conversation. The focus is not so much on the estimated ATAR that they calculate but the way in which they can maximise their learning opportunities in 2019.

Parent Teacher Conferences

The Year 7 to 12 Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, 21 March and Thursday, 28 March between 4.00pm and 7.30pm in the Latingata Morrom Gymnasium. The Parent Teacher Conferences are an important opportunity to develop a working and supportive relationship between subject teachers, parents and students. It is essential that the student attends the Parent Teacher Conferences so that they are able to share their learning experience and participate in the conversation about their subject expectations. Parents and guardians will be able to download a copy of their daughter’s Interim report prior to the session and further information will be provided in a later newsletter.

I am delighted to have joined the Siena community this year as Deputy Principal Wellbeing and to be leading such a wonderful team. I am committed to wellbeing as it is integral to learning and to all activities that students participate in. Student voice is key to wellbeing as it gives young people a sense of agency and ownership and I am looking forward to spending time with groups of students and hearing their views about what is going on in the College and in the wider community.

My educational philosophy is to create a Christ centred community of learners, modelled on excellence, who are inquisitive, brave and provided with opportunities to achieve success in an environment that is inclusive and supportive, regardless of background, gender or race.

My experience in education spans over thirty years and I have built on my practical experience with further study, currently completing a second Master’s Degree, this time in Theology. I am eager to be immersed in the Dominican charism as the Four Pillars of prayer, study, community and service drive all of our endeavours at Siena College.

Minna DenholmMy name is Minna Denholm and I have worked at Siena College for seven years. This will be my sixth year working directly in Wellbeing. I started as a Cassia House Assistant, moved to Transition Coordinator and this year I am thrilled to be Leader of Wellbeing Programs. I work directly with the Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Heads of Student Wellbeing, House Group teachers and students to implement the weekly pastoral program, orientation and transition days for new students. This year I will liaise with Catholic Education Melbourne and Siena College staff in an exciting opportunity for Siena College to showcase its Wellbeing programs to other Catholic schools in the Eastern region. I am also undertaking further study having commenced a Master of Student Wellbeing at the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

Georgina PlastoMy name is Georgina Plasto and I am the Head of Student Wellbeing for Cassia House. I have been teaching at Siena College for eleven years in the Drama and English departments and was the Head of Learning in the Performing Arts for five years. It has always been my ambition to work as part of the Wellbeing Team and so when an opportunity arose for a Head of Student Wellbeing, I was extremely motivated to join a dynamic team to develop wellbeing programs and practices that best support our students. I am passionate about the wellbeing of our students and believe that a student’s education should be seen holistically. I feel strongly that the wellbeing practices and the relationships that we create with our students are paramount in their development in all aspects of life as it wfoundation for improved overall wellbeing, connectedness to school community and will enhance a student’s learning behaviours and motivation to achieve their best. We want our school to be a place where our students thrive, explore and make meaningful connections, a place where they are heard and understood, connected and encouraged. I look forward to working with the students and families of Cassia House.

Natalie KinsellaI am incredibly fortunate to be working as the Head of Student Wellbeing for Dianella House at Siena College this year. As a new staff member to the College, I look forward to forming positive relationships with the students and their families as they continue on the exciting journey of secondary school. I am extremely passionate about student wellbeing and ensuring that the years students spend at school are full of goal setting and achievement, personal change, laughter and opportunity. I aim to provide support and guidance to all students so that they may become creative, confident and compassionate individuals and lifelong learners.

As a Health and PE teacher, I am also very passionate about all things sport, working in teams, communication and building confidence. I love netball and barrack for the mighty Tigers in the AFL. I look forward to working with you.

Maree CodyI came to Siena College ten years ago in Term 4 as a Chemistry Teacher and a House Coordinator. During my time at the College I have taught Year 9 Religious Education, Years 11 and 12 Chemistry, Years 9 and 10 Science, Year 7 and 9 Mathematics and Years 7, 9, 10 and 11 Drama. Having taught VCE Theatre Studies at my previous school for many years, I was very keen to initiate a College Play for senior students as a cocurricular activity. This has proven to be very successful with many students strengthening friendships through their participation, whilst I have been able to nurture my passion for directing. It was my interest in theatre that led me to teaching – that was what I wanted to teach initially. A Chemistry method, due to many years as a pharmacist, ensured that I have always taught that subject. Working with our students on their wellbeing has been the unforeseen bonus. Now it would be virtually impossible to say what I love best: the sciences, mathematics, theatre and drama or very close and important work with the students. Thank goodness I don’t have to choose!

Jill FoleyI have built my career through a variety of roles and industries, most notably through Education and the European Entertainment Industry of the Arts, Television, Radio and Music Festivals. This is my third year at Siena College. In Waratah House we encourage and value creativity, flexibility and innovation and are always open to new and exciting opportunities. I have worn many hats. My career history is diverse and creative both inside and outside of the traditional classroom structure. I am a passionate and resourceful educator understanding what it means to be a transformational leader and as a creative thinker I enjoy working with others to create opportunities for contemporary learning. I am so invested in the wellbeing of the young people I teach, shaping the whole person and encouraging them to develop positive, healthy relationships and strive for academic excellence.

I believe the role of the educator is to inspire young people so that they are able to construct a well formed world view, influenced by society's values and an understanding of how they can make a difference beyond the walls of Siena. I identify with the values of integrity, empathy, fairness, equality and support. I translate this strength of vision consistently with students in my care. We also make sure that in Waratah we always have fun! Looking forward to another fabulous year in 2019.

Jennifer Lear

I have been a College Counsellor at Siena College since the start of 2015. I love being part of the Siena College community and part of the Wellbeing Team. I work from Monday – Thursday and I will be taking maternity leave shortly to have twin boys. I also have a young daughter, so I like to keep busy. I moved to Australia at the end of 2014 from England, where I worked as a social worker prior to undertaking my doctorate in Clinical Psychology and working for the NHS. I will be returning from maternity leave at the start of Term 4 and look forward to continuing to work with the students and families here at Siena.

Millie HolmesMy name is Millie and I am one of the counsellors. This is my third year at Siena College and prior to this, I held a variety of roles in child and adolescent outpatient and inpatient settings in the public and private mental health sectors. I have facilitated consults and educational workshops for young people, staff and parents on a range of psychological topics. Collectively these experiences have driven my interest and passion for working with young people and their families and I love the challenges and complexities of working here at Siena. I hope to continue supporting our students so that they can achieve their personal best and be self aware, enquiring, resourceful, individuals as student wellbeing is the platform for success in any school. I look forward to another year of working alongside staff, parents, and external agencies to help each of our students feel individually cared for, encouraged and valued.

Lisa EllisMy name is Lisa Ellis. I am one of the new counselling staff members at Siena College. I am working Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I have previously worked with adolescents in Private Practice and within the Vocational Education system (TAFE). I am looking forward to working at Siena, meeting the students and supporting them on their journey. I have three young children who keep me busy when I’m not at work and who constantly remind me of the importance of laughter and being in the present moment. When I have spare time, I love yoga, swimming, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Gemma MorleyMy name is Gemma Morley and I am one of the new College Counsellors at Siena College for 2019. I have previously been working in private practice and at another local secondary school for the last five years. I am passionate about supporting the mental health of adolescents and I enjoy being able to work within a school setting. When I am not at work, I am busy being a mum to my two young children. I will be at Siena College on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays this year and I look forward to meeting many of the students and families throughout the year.

SchoolTV at Siena College

Today's parents face a multitude of modern day challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance. SchoolTVis an online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical and ongoing support strategies. An excellent feature of SchoolTV is that it is available when you need to access it, in your own time. Evidence based recommendations and strategies are provided by specialists who practice in the field.

The final year of secondary school is a year of hard work and a huge commitment for students. With so much going on it can be hard to find the balance between study and life. It is a time when personalities start to emerge, there are more complex interpersonal relationships and there is the pressure to perform academically. With all of this going on, it’s not surprising that some students have an emotional response and it is therefore extremely important for parents to know how to support their children during this time.

Some young people will need more support than others. Keeping the communication lines open with your child, their teachers, mentors and other parents will be crucial. Being aware of your child’s mental and physical wellbeing can play a vital role in their success.

Siena College Mobile Phone Policy

In June 2018, the NSW Minister for Education, commissioned an independent review into the non-educational use of mobile devices in NSW schools. The review was led by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, and supported by other independent experts as well as many students, parents and guardians, teachers and principals who were consulted in the process. As a result, the use of mobile devices during school hours will now be restricted in NSW public primary schools.

The Siena College Guidelines regarding the use of mobile phones were shared with parents and students in earlier this month. We all know that technology does have a role to play in the classroom, but this needs to be facilitated. Personal smartphones, on the other hand, are proving to be a distraction for students in terms of their access to social media sites, as well as potentially being a source of bullying activities.

In this Special Report, parents and guardians will learn about the importance of helping their daughter find a balance to get the good parts out of technology.

Our Siena College Learning Framework provides an excellent foundation for strong learning opportunities for our students. In establishing classes, teachers have examined the quadrants of ...

Our Siena College Learning Framework provides an excellent foundation for strong learning opportunities for our students. In establishing classes, teachers have examined the quadrants of the Learning Framework with their students and in conjunction with the Classroom Learning Indicators, determined the classroom expectations. These expectations are on the Siena Central class page and provide an excellent opportunity for students and parents to revisit as required.

As part of providing a safe and collaborative learning environment, students are paired with a ‘Positive Learning Partner’ (PLP). This ensures all students engage in an environment that offers support and trust and develop skills of collaboration and respect for others.

Home Learning at Siena College

Study is an integral aspect of the Dominican faith tradition. Home learning enables students to cement their classroom learning and identify areas for further growth. Home learning also provides an opportunity for students to play an active role in improving their understanding and for parents to work in partnership with their daughters and teachers to positively influence their daughter’s education.

Amount of Home Learning / Study per Subject

Given the varying nature of subjects, home learning requirements will vary. Part of the learning process for students involves discernment and time management as they plan home learning. Subject teachers consider the suggested total guidelines and their professional judgement in determining the home learning for their individual subject. The following is a guide per year level regarding the amount of time that students should spend on home learning:

Student Responsibilities

In becoming independent learners, students are encouraged to:

• Use Siena Central to access class learning and to view home learning tasks daily• Submit work that reflects their best effort and in which they have pride• Complete and submit all work and assessment or apply for a ‘Application for Change of Submission Date’ form (assignments and tests only) by the due date • Establish a regular home learning routine which includes:

- Accessing Siena Central to confirm Home Learning requirements- Home Learning/study planner - Due date calendar- Regular study/revision of their class work to consolidate learning- Dedicated learning space free of distraction - Catching up on missed class work if absent

• Seek assistance from their subject teacher to clarify understanding of learning and task• Communicate with the subject teacher prior to task due date where a lack of understanding prevents completion of task

Parent Responsibilities

Parents, as the primary educators of their children, are encouraged to:

• Provide an environment conducive to effective home study• Help their daughter balance the amount of time spent completing home learning with engagement in leisure or recreational activities• Assist their daughter in developing a home learning/study timetable • Encourage their daughter to set aside a regular daily session to study/revise and complete home learning and assessment tasks by the due date• Observe and acknowledge their daughter’s success by asking how their home and class work is progressing• Check Siena Central subject class pages regularly to monitor that home learning is being completed• Encourage their daughter to exercise thoroughness and care in the completion of work• Encourage their daughter to seek assistance from the teacher where lack of understanding exists• Communicate with class teacher or Head of Student Wellbeing where appropriate• Assist their daughter in determining responsible use of technology during Home Learning

A successful learning space should:

• Have a suitable desk and chair• Be free of noise and distractions (such as the TV, iPhones, social media, other people, etc.)• Be well organised, allowing easy access to resources and stationery• Display a 2019 calendar with important dates such as due dates, assignments, key school events, etc. • Be well lit and ventilated

The ‘Application for Change of Assessment Date’ form for tests or assignments is available on Siena Central in both the Student Zone and Parent Portal. If required, this must be submitted to the teacher prior to the due date of the task.

Year 7 Home Learning

The Year 7 Home Learning Guidelines assist our Year 7 Students in transitioning and settling into secondary school. Home Learning will commence for Year 7 students on Monday, 25 February 2019.

To assist Year 7 Students with assessment requirements, a Year 7 Academic Calendar will be compiled and published. This will be made accessible to all students and parents via email and Siena Central. The Academic Calendar will provide an outline of the due week for Unit Assessment and whether the task is to be completed in class or at home. This will be made available to students and parents in the upcoming weeks.

Siena Central class pages and online feedback

Parents are reminded that they have access to their daughter’s subject class pages. This enables direct access to daily classroom learning and home learning tasks. Accessing the class pages provides a useful foundation for the relationship between student, parent and teacher, ensuring all play an important role in advancing their daughter’s learning.

Siena Central also provides the opportunity for students and their parents to receive ongoing feedback regarding the students’ areas of achievement and improvement for each assessment task. Online feedback will be made available to students and parents in a timely manner and can be accessed in the following ways:

• For students, access the Grades tab on the student dashboard, then select the subject.• Parents will receive an email notification when their daughter’s work is marked. To access the result and comments, log on to Siena Central through the College website portal. Select daughter’s name in the side menu and select 'Grades' from the options. The percentage result and a teacher comment are available for assessed tasks.

The Siena Central Parent User Guide outlines how to access the above options and other aspects of Siena Central. It is available on the Parent Portal under ‘Useful information’.

Throughout Term 1, parents will be asked to provide feedback on their use of Siena Central. We appreciate your support in collecting this information, to ensure we are meeting your needs and continuing to develop our partnership with you to assist your daughter in her learning.

If you have any questions or difficulties accessing the Siena Central Parent Portal or the online feedback, please contact IT help at the College on 9835 0200 or ithelp@siena.vic.edu.au

It has been a busy start to Term 1 Sport with Indoor Cricket, Softball, Tennis, Swimming and Diving all commencing training in Week 1.

It has been a busy start to Term 1 Sport with Indoor Cricket, Softball, Tennis, Swimming and Diving all commencing training in Week 1. Our Senior Girls had their first round of competition on Monday with the Softball team winning 14-9 against Firbank and our Indoor Cricket teams both winning against MLC by over 80 runs.

I would like to congratulate Ashling O’Farrell who has been selected in the Victorian Under 15 Girls’ cricket team which will play in the National Championships in Canberra from Tuesday 19 to Wednesday 27 February. We wish her luck and look forward to hearing of her experience.

Term 2 sign ups for GSV sport are now open. Students have received an email outlining which sports are available and explaining the application process. Girls have a week to sign up via an online form and entries close on Wednesday, 20 February.

We now have a Social Run Club on Wednesday mornings. We encourage all girls to join us for a short run/walk around the local area. We meet at 7.30am outside the gym with Nick Baggott, Siena College’s Cross Country coach and aim to be back at school by 8.10am.

Please continue to check in with your daughter regarding GSV sport. We rely on the girls passing information to their parents and emphasise this in any emails sent to them. You can also access our sport page on Siena Central for the latest information. I thank you for your patience and understanding over the last couple of weeks whilst we organised our Term 1 sport program.

Please note there are several girls who still require permission to participate in Term 1 GSV sports. You will receive an email from Care Monkey reminding you to give permission. We are unable to take your daughter off the school campus without parental consent, so please ensure you access your account as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our sport team at sport@siena.vic.edu.au and they will be pleased to assist.

The commencement of the 2019 school year has seen the renaming of our Resource Centre to the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre. The significance of the name change reflects a shift in thinking about the role this physical space plays for the Siena learning community. Our vision for the Learning Centre is exciting and dynamic. The Learning Centre will become a hub to foster the development and support of student voice, the promotion of our Dominican Mission and Identity, a place where educators collaborate to develop programs with the Victorian Curriculum General Capabilities (Ethical, Intercultural, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social) embedded into the learning experience. The Learning Centre will support STEAM classes and also be a venue to host guest speakers from both within and outside the College. The Library will continue to function out of the Learning Centre, offering all the resources, lunch time activities and services it always has. We look forward to reporting on the events and activities taking place in the Learning Centre throughout the year.

The future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognise the other as a 'you' and themselves as part of an 'us.' We all need each other. Pope Francis 2017 TED Talk “Why the only future worth building includes everyone”.

Service to the Community Log Books will be distributed to all students in House Groups during Week 3. The Service to the Community Program at Siena aims to assist our students to develop empathy and understanding of the lives of others, and to foster a willingness within each student to make a difference in our world. Students are encouraged to pursue opportunities for service which would develop their understanding of poverty and disadvantage.

Service opportunities will be advertised from time to time on the 'Service to the Community' tile on Siena Central. Students are encouraged to seek opportunities for Service within their own community networks and local organisations and are reminded that their Service should be unpaid, practical and of assistance to others. House Group teachers will periodically check on the progress of Service to the Community Log Books of their students and will report on these in House Group reports each Semester. Parents are asked to support the College with this important facet of their daughter’s education.

The following reflections written by our students are a brief insight into this valuable STEM learning experience.

Student reflections

From 9-20 December 2018, twelve Siena College students were privileged to participate in ACTURA’s space school in Houston, Texas. After a journey of almost twenty four hours, we arrived in Houston. On our first day, we went to Ad Astra, a company creating a new form of engine, a plasma propulsion engine. This engine super heats gas into plasma, the fourth state of matter. This plasma provides constant thrust and significantly decreases travel time. In fact, with this engine, a trip to the moon would only take two hours as opposed to fifty seven hours! Following this experience and various shopping expeditions, we finally attended Space University - a five day program at NASA Johnson Space Centre. During this program we made a Mars base, a Mars rover and created a heat shield to protect our ‘eggs’-tronaut! We saw one of the three remaining Saturn V rockets at Rocket Park which was truly amazing. That rocket was huge! Whilst at NASA, we got to see some astronauts in training prepare for an eight hour work day at the neutral bouyancy lab known as the Sonny Carter Training Facility. Here, two astronauts are submerged in a huge pool twelve metres deep to work with a mock up of the International Space Station under water as this simulates weightlessness. We were so fortunate to meet many astronauts who have worked with the space shuttle program including Nicole Stott. All in all, this experience is a once in a lifetime adventure and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity. I have definitely been inspired by everyone I met during this trip, especially Nicole Stott, to chase my dreams of becoming an astronaut. Jade Devlin Year 12 (SCB)

Over the summer holidays I participated in the trip to NASA. Deciding to join this adventure was one of the greatest decisions of my life. We worked off a jam-packed schedule, waking up at 5.00am most mornings so we could all be out and on the road as early as possible. Some of the most amazing activities we completed were working in a simulated mission control working as a team to solve problems. For example, at one point I was working for life support and suddenly we had a breach in the oxygen tanks and only four minutes of air left. We had to work as a team and solve the problem so that our crew could land safely. My favourite part of the trip would have to be all the amazing girls I met, and the lifelong friends I have made. We were all very sad to say goodbye, but we are all still keeping close contact. This was the trip of a lifetime and if anyone gets the opportunity to go on this trip I highly recommend it as you will never regret signing up.Lily Dickenson Year 11 (SKD)

I had so much fun whilst on Space Camp and learnt a lot about science and the world of space. I really enjoyed trying different machines and learning about the way astronauts prepare for travelling into space. The best part was attending lectures from inspiring people who wanted to help us grow. The presenters were so admirable and I really enjoyed the exposure to a new environment. It was fun trying something new and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I would highly recommend participating in this experience if you are questioning whether you should work in this field, or even if you’re curious about space. It teaches you a lot about the world of technology. I met a lot of people and made many new friends. I learnt a lot about myself and I’m so thankful that I was able to take part in this program. Amy Linden Year 10 (SDB)

The Actura Case Space School trip was the most incredible experience I have ever completed in my life. The exclusive access we received included speeches and meeting several inspiring astronauts encouraging us to one day have a career in the space or science field. Throughout the five days at NASA we worked in teams and made rockets which we launched, created a Mars habitation, programmed and built a rover and tested thermal and cryogenics on our marshmallow astronaut. The recreational activities were also incredible, such as the museum, shopping, NBA and scuba diving. This trip also created a bond between the members of the B21 group, exploring an unfamiliar place for the first all together, bonding over the same passions we have. To this day I still miss those 6.00am wake up calls and being on the bus to NASA. The trip reinforced my real passions for Space Science and I encourage everyone who loves Space or Science to go on this trip where you learn nothing is impossible.Alexandra Musco Year 11 (SDB)

The remarkable trip to Houston, Texas allowed me to learn more about the variety of careers available in the space programs. We were given this amazing opportunity to be exposed to another culture leaving me with many unforgettable memories. Attending an American basketball game, the George Observatory and N.A.S.A are only a few of the sensational places we visited while in Houston. This trip was incredible and I would recommend it to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the space industry or just wanting to explore their future career options.Zara Turner Year 11 (SKA)

During the Space School camp I learnt so many valuable skills such as how to remain focused under pressure in the mission control simulator and how to work with a team. We learnt how to work with budgets at Space University and were encouraged to never doubt yourself, something my team experienced after we constructed a glove and everyone laughed at its appearance. In fact we did win, despite its odd visual credentials! My favourite activity at Space University was definitely cryo and thermo activity. It was fun to experiment with which materials work best to keep the marshmallow and egg safe. I really liked the mission simulator because it pushed us out of our comfort zones trying to deal with almost losing air and then almost crashing the rocket. The activities are not just normal school science tasks, you see and experience situations real astronauts encounter for training and on a mission. And if that wasn't enough, you also get to experience swesome events like the NBA. Overall it was a great trip with many great experiences that I will never forget.Ashley Pietrobon Year 11 (SDC)

The ‘Year 7 Poetry Competition’ is now open to all Year 7 students. Submissions may be either classwork or a piece that students have worked on at at home.Winning entries will be invited to take part in a workshop with Melbourne based performance poet, Joel McKerrow when he visits Siena in Week 5. Joel visited the College last year and the students who took part in his workshop really enjoyed working with him as he encouraged them to write from the heart.

Students can submit their poems on the Year 7 English Course Page on Siena Central. Entries close on Wednesday 27 February, 2019. Year 7 students should speak to their English teacher if they have any questions.

The Convent refurbishment is almost complete and we are thrilled to see the results as we look forward to reopening the Convent and resuming carpark access by 1 March. Please take the time to click through the gallery to see some images from the beautifully restored interior of the boardroom, Principal's office and meeting rooms.

On 31 January 2019, members of the SRC across Years 9 to 12 attended a Leadership Forum

On 31 January 2019, members of the SRC across Years 9 to 12 attended a Leadership Forum. This day emphasised our duties as role models at school, and the values of Siena that we must uphold and use to lead by example. The morning started off with an introduction and warm welcome from our Principal, Mrs Robson-Garth, who spoke about our theme for 2019, Called By Name, and spoke of some exciting upcoming events for the year. We were thrilled to hear that Sister Sheila will be on staff for the next 6 months, as she spoke of the current societal adversities in our world and explained the stories of ordinary people who were making a difference. These empowering people started alone and without money and resources, and slowly built an empire that started to change our world for the better. After this, various leadership workshops commenced - these were run by Ms Moody, Ms Levett, Jade and myself. These workshops allowed the different year levels to work cohesively together and share various ideas about what it means to be a leader, as well as brainstorm and delve into more depth about the different qualities a leader possesses. We talked collectively about new initiatives we wanted to see explored at Siena, as well as new ways we can project the student voice. This year the SRC wants to encourage participation across all year levels, and emphasise that leadership is more than those who wear a badge. Following this, the different groups broke off and started planning for the year. The house leaders planned for Fiesta specifically with their House coordinators, and the College Captains and Public Relations Captain planned with Ms Moody some different fundraisers and ways to raise awareness of Project Compassion, which starts on Ash Wednesday. To conclude the day, we held a group reflection. The day was pivotal to students’ development as leaders, and reminded all of our duty to uphold not just throughout the year, but for the entirety of our schooling at Siena.

Now Accepting Applicants for 2020 Rotary Youth Exchange!

Are you a Year 9, 10 or 11 Student? You may qualify as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and have the opportunity to live and study in Germany, France Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Taiwan, Brazil, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Poland, or Switzerland.

The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is a unique opportunity for students to experience the culture of a new country, to learn a new language and develop new friendships.

Applications are now being accepted and close on Sunday, 7 April 2019. Students must be under the age of 17 years and 6 months, as at 1 January in the year of departure.

Host Families Invited Now!

Rotary Youth Exchange invites kind and caring Host Families within the community to assist local Rotary Clubs offer an outstanding exchange program to young people from all over the World. A Host Family is a vital part of this cultural and educational exchange and typically hosts a student on a voluntary basis for a period of between 10 to 16 weeks. In doing so, a Host family officially becomes a Friend of Rotary International. The Host Family plays an integral role in offering the student the experience of a new culture and language, whilst at the same time learning itself about a different culture from a young leader. It is a direct window to the world for all members of a Host family.

You not only share a young person’s hopes and dreams, but more importantly, you make those dreams possible. Hosting is the beginning of a lifelong friendship and connection with a student and family overseas. Whilst it can be challenging to help a young person transition to a new culture and ease into the surroundings, it is always fun and the rewards are immeasurable.

Host Families in the Rotary Youth Exchange program come in many shapes and sizes! Young children, older children, and no children at all, extended families and older generations – all have been successful in hosting exchange students.

Please consider this amazing and rewarding opportunity now. Enquiries are most welcome.

Siena Parents Association warmly invites all Year 7 families and new families to a welcome evening on Friday, 1 March at 7.00pm.

Siena Parents Association warmly invites all Year 7 families and new families to a welcome evening on Friday, 1 March at 7.00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to mingle amongst other Year 7 families in the Convent gardens while your daughters are having a fabulous time in the Gym at the Pyjama Disco Party.

Please rsvp using the following link http://www.trybooking.com/466990 for catering purposes (no charge for tickets however alcohol will be available for purchase on the evening).

We look forward to welcoming all our new families to the Siena community..

This data is being collected to assist the Australian Government to move towards a fairer, needs-based funding model for non-government schools. More information can be found in the following documents:

On behalf of the Board of Directors it is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that I announce that our Principal, Mrs Gaynor Robson-Garth will...

Dear Members of the Siena College Community

On behalf of the Board of Directors it is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that I announce that our Principal, Mrs Gaynor Robson-Garth will conclude her tenure as Principal at the end of this year, having completed thirteen years of outstanding leadership at the College.

Mrs Robson-Garth has brought personal and professional excellence to the education of our girls and to the leadership of our staff. Under her stewardship, the College has come to be ranked in the top five Catholic Colleges in the state for its VCE performance.

Mrs Robson-Garth has built an expert and highly capable staff and shaped the culture of the College community in the Dominican spirit, as collaborative, positive, inclusive, and collegiate .

During her principalship, the College facilities have been greatly improved through a series of successful capital works projects while maintaining a strong financial position.

Her passion for best practice learning and teaching has seen practical innovative approaches implemented at the College including initiatives to support the wellbeing of our girls. She has worked with her teams and the Board to develop a strong Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2023. Her dedication and abilities have underpinned the College's success during her tenure.

Mrs Robson-Garth will continue in her role as Principal of Siena College until the end of the 2019 academic year. As a community, we will all have the chance to thank her and recognise her great achievements with suitable celebrations towards the end of the year.

The Board has established a rigorous recruitment process, including selecting a well qualified selection panel. We will shortly appoint a specialist recruitment firm to help us find an outstanding Principal to build upon the College's excellent performance and achievements, and to lead the next exciting chapter of our College's history.

The Board will seek to appoint a Principal with strong relational leadership qualities, an outstanding track record in educational leadership, student wellbeing, management, and a deep and abiding commitment to the values and charism of the Dominican educational mission.

I trust that the whole Siena College community will work together to support the College through the transition period and I look forward to the completion of the recruitment process.

I know that you will also join with the College Board and Dominican Education Australia in thanking Mrs Robson-Garth for her outstanding contribution and wishing her well for another successful year in 2019 at Siena College.

Congratulations are extended to Dr Beverley Begg (Siena College Board Chair 2010 to 2017) and Magda Szubanski (Class of 1978) who were recognised in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.

Congratulations are extended to Dr Beverley Begg (Siena College Board Chair 2010 to 2017) and Magda Szubanski (Class of 1978) who were recognised in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.

Dr Beverley Begg OAM

Beverley’s contributions span classroom teaching, research, work at systems level with Catholic Education Melbourne in the areas of pastoral care, student wellbeing and teacher education, as well as significant contributions to school governance and to the Siena College Board and community over seven years.

Beverley has worked as a teacher and Guide Leader with indigenous students and students with disabilities, as well as in mainstream classrooms. Her teaching included time as a Science and Biology teacher at Siena College from 1984 to 1996, where she also lead the Duke of Edinburgh Program and was a Year Level Coordinator.

Beverley’s love of learning, her commitment to the education of young women and her generous investment of time to the role of Board Chair have underpinned the growth and development of the College from many perspectives, resulting in enhanced educational outcomes for students and a flourishing school.

Magda Szubanski AO

Magda Szubanski was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her work as an actor, comedian and writer and her work campaigning for same-sex marriage.

After leaving Siena College, Magda Szubanski studied arts at The University of Melbourne and was a key figure in the ground-breaking TV comedy shows The D-Generation and FastForward. Today, Magda is one of Australia’s most popular and accomplished comedians and performers. She is best known for playing Sharon Strzelecki in the classic Australian sitcom, Kath & Kim. Her other roles have included playing Esme Hoggett in the films Babe and Babe: Pig in the City, and being the voice of Miss Viola in the Oscar-winning animated film Happy Feet.

“Whatever I achieved was achieved standing on the shoulders of Sharon Strzelecki," Magda said.

As December arrives, we come to the season of Advent and the Church’s new liturgical year.

As December arrives, we come to the season of Advent and the Church’s new liturgical year. At this time we remember Jesus who was born a carpenter’s son in a cow stall, Jesus who shares our humanity. We are invited to let go of those aspects of ourselves that are not life giving or loving and to imagine a time when God’s Kingdom will come. When we choose the God of life and love, Christ is born again in us and we are born again in Christ.

The Student Representative Council has once again coordinated the St Mary’s House of Welcome Christmas Hamper Appeal. Staff and students collected toys, gifts, clothing and food to donate to Melbourne families in great need of assistance at Christmas. This yearly event is a timely reminder of the privileges that many of us take for granted, a symbol of Advent and the hope that accompanies this season.

We have been much saddened by the passing of our dear friend and former colleague Sue Law, last Saturday, 24 November. Sue was our Director of Marketing and Communications from 2012 until mid 2018 and left an enormous legacy in the branding and marketing of Siena College. We extend our deepest condolences to Sue’s husband Stuart, daughter Brenna and father Mal.

As the school year concludes, we look back with pride and satisfaction on the year that has passed. We are grateful for our learnings, for the friendships shared and strengthened, for our achievements and service. I thank you all for your support of the College this year and for your contribution as a student, parent, friend or staff member. Each of us has a part to play in building and strengthening the Siena community and I thank you for playing your part.

I wish all members of our Siena community a safe and rejuvenating break and may Christmas be a time of joy and peace and the New Year full of blessings and promise.

Examinations

Over the past few weeks, our Year 9 to Year 11 students have been sitting their exams, with the last exam being written by our Year 9s on 5 December. Across all year levels, our teaching staff are very busy marking examination papers and finalising assessment tasks for the Semester 2 reports. Year 9 and 10 examination results will be published on 11 December on Siena Central. Year 11 examination results were published on 29 November. Semester 2 reports will be available on the parent portal on Friday, 14 December.

Year 11 and 12 Headstart Program

After a week of Headstart, Year 11 students will enjoy their last school day for the year on 30 November. Year 10 students will participate in a three day Headstart Program and will finish school on Wednesday, 5 December. Our Year 9s complete their last exam on 5 December and with Years 7 to 8 will attend their end of year House Group, final assembly and Liturgy on 6 December.

Awards Evening

The annual Academic Awards Evening will be held at the Hawthorn Town Hall on Wednesday, 12 December commencing at 7.00pm. Parents and guardians of students who will receive an award will receive a personal invitation and details of the evening. Invitations to Year 7 and 8 parents and guardians will be sent on Thursday, 6 December after results have been finalised.

Year 7 to 11 Academic Excellence Awards are presented to the top five percent of students in the cohort based on a mathematical calculation of their grades. Year 12 Academic Excellence awards are determined by scores in School Assessed Course Work per subject.

Academic Endeavour Awards recognise a student who has worked solidly with a spirit of enthusiasm and collaboration. She is both supportive and considerate of other students and shows persistence in her academic endeavours. Year 7 to 11 recipients are required to receive a suitable number of nominations across the year level per subject. Academic Endeavour Awards are presented to one student in each Year 12 class.

It has been a busy and productive term and as the school year concludes, we wish all our families a wonderful break over the school holidays. Our prayers and best wishes go to our Year 12 students whose VCE results will be released on 14 December.

The whole liturgical year forms us to be a people with the courage to wait until the Lord comes.

The whole liturgical year forms us to be a people with the courage to wait until the Lord comes. Advent trains us in the patience not to begin celebrating too early, resisting the temptation to celebrate Christ’s birth before he comes… Christ is a gift and one respects the gift by waiting for the moment when it is given.

The Latin word for ‘to wait’ – attendere – means to stretch oneself forward, we are attentive, opening ourselves to what will come.

During Advent, we are like people gathered around the bed, we await the birth. But God’s coming was not just the birth of a child, it was the coming of a word… though it needed thousands of years before there was a language in which God’s word could be spoken in the form of Jesus.

I would like to thank and congratulate all our music students who have developed their musicianship and ensemble skills through participation in a huge variety of College events throughout an exciting and rewarding year. They have represented the Siena music department with great pride in concerts, festivals, recital evenings, tours, workshops,the school musical, Masses and music camp. Thank you to all our music staff for all that they do to make music a major part of so many students' lives. We wish you a joyful Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday.

Summer Concert

We extend a warm welcome to families to join us for the Summer Concert on 5 December from 4.30pm to 6.30pm adjacent to the St Catherine Centre on the basketball courts. This concert will feature many of our ensembles performing concert pieces and Christmas carols. Bring along your picnic rugs and Christmas hats and join in the fun. Student performers are reminded to remain at school after classes conclude.

Hire Instruments

As the year comes to a close we ask all students who will be purchasing their own instruments over the holidays to please return their hire instruments after the Summer Concert, so they can be cleaned and prepared for the new Year 7 cohort.

Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival

The Siena College Stage Band has been invited to perform at the Melbourne International Women's Jazz festival as part of the students night on Tuesday, 4 December at the Jazz Lab in Brunswick. It is a great honour to be one of the three schools invited to perform and recognises the standard of our band. For more information and ticket bookings click here

Siena College Instrumental Music Examinations

Seventeen students from Years 7 to 10 participated in our Siena College music examinations. We would like to congratulations all students for their diligence in preparing for their exams. The results were outstanding and reflective of the practice and effort they put into their instruments.

We have had a busy Term 4 of GSV Sport with many Water Polo, Cricket and Basketball teams participating over the last six weeks. Our Junior B and C teams have been particularly successful, making it to the finals after strong performances in their semi finals at MSAC.

Term 4 finals signify the conclusion GSV Sport at Siena College for 2018. Thank you to all the girls for their participation, it has been a great year for Siena once again and all are to be congratulated.

Please note that our Celebration of Sport Awards Evening will be held at Camberwell Grammar School on Thursday, 6 December 2018 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Award recipients have been notified and their families have been invited. If you would like to attend, please contact me at jhoughton@siena.vic.edu.au as we would be more than happy to accommodate you.

We wish to recognise Georgia Byrne, Year 11, on her fantastic achievement of being selected to represent Victoria in Rugby Sevens. The tournament will be played in Brisbane next week and we wish Georgia the best of luck.

In the latest edition of Siena Career News you can read about a new tertiary course search website, which allows students to search and filter courses based on ATAR, study score and locat...

In the latest edition of Siena Career News you can read about a new tertiary course search website, which allows students to search and filter courses based on ATAR, study score and location. Also, for students interested in Screen, Sound and Creative Media, there are a few events coming up, such as the SAE Information Night in December and the University of Melbourne Filmmaking school in the holidays. JMC Academy are also holding an Open Day in January.

Students interested in a career in Sport may want to read about a program developed between the Carlton Football Club and LaTrobe University. Please refer to Siena Career News for further details on this diploma pathway into the Bachelor of Sport Coaching and Development.

According to Socrates, ‘Philosophy begins in wonder’. Do you ever find yourself wondering about those big ethical or philosophical questions?

According to Socrates, ‘Philosophy begins in wonder’. Do you ever find yourself wondering about those big ethical or philosophical questions? For example, do all creatures have a mind or is everything we see real? Or maybe, how do we know the right action to take or is lying always wrong? Questions such as these have been the focus of debate amongst philosophers for thousands of years.

Small groups of thoughtful Year 7 and Year 8 students accepted the challenge to consider some of life’s unanswered questions by attending a philosophy program delivered by the Learning Enhancement Department. Each fortnightly session gave students an opportunity to examine some of life’s biggest topics such as perception, beauty, discrimination, art and aesthetics, racism, ethics, truth, forgiveness and identity. They were asked to come with an open mind, to think and share their ideas and to listen without prejudice to the opinions of others.

In each session, students were asked to respond to some form of stimulus based on the topic being considered. Each student demonstrated an ability to think creatively, to work as part of a team, to examine and consider multiple perspectives of a given topic. It was exciting to watch these young philosophers at work, engaging with ideas that challenged them to think and wonder about their world from new perspectives.

Student Reflections

‘Philosophy this year has taught me to be open and to speak my mind.’ Maliana Tapusoa

‘I loved Philosophy because it gave me the opportunity to challenge my ideas and to think deeply about certain topics.’Pia Perini

‘I have been exposed to new ideas and thought about things such as beauty and art in ways I never would have before’ Guilia D’Angelo

‘I have loved spending a period each fortnight talking about interesting topics and interpreting them with friends’ Charlotte Ryan

As a part of the Year 9 curriculum, we completed a 'Healthy Food by Design' class...

Student Reflection

'As a part of the Year 9 curriculum, we completed a 'Healthy Food by Design' class which included growing vegetables such as silverbeet, coriander, parsley and spring onions. We worked to prepare the soil, plant the seeds and then cared for the plants as they grew. Unfortunately, our garden bed was located in a rain shadow, meaning the garden bed lacked sunlight and needed a little bit more than was available. However, it was still an absolute joy to watch our seedlings grow into plants over the course of the subject.

Although our journey was broken up by the Term 3 holidays, we were delighted to see that the garden bed was still in pristine condition when we returned to school in Term 4. Overall, this project was inspiring and heartwarming as we were able to give back to both the community and the environment. Throughout the subject we gladly devoted a portion of our recesses and lunchtimes to water the garden bed. It was a rewarding experience and I am extremely thankful to have been a part of it.'

On Friday 16 November, we welcomed one hundred and forty eight Grade 6 students to our College to begin their transition into secondary school.

The girls began the day with assembly and shortly after were allocated to their Houses. Everyone participated in a variety of 'getting to know you' activities with their Head of Student Wellbeing before breaking for recess.

They were then placed in smaller groups, which rotated throughout the mid-morning session. This provided an opportunity for the girls to make connections with a variety of students from other primary schools. At Siena we understand the importance of relating and belonging. A great sense of belonging promotes positive student wellbeing and generates success in the academic classroom. As such, our Transition Day is structured around creating a strong sense of community.

During lunch the girls were able to sign up for Girls Sport Victoria (GSV) in Term 1 and were introduced to some of the Siena sports faculty staff. The day ended back in House areas where the girls reflected on their first experience of Siena College.

Many thanks to all involved with the preparation and implementation of the Transition program.

Christmas has come early for Siena Archives. Wendy Edwards, Class of 1967, recently sent us a number of uniform items including the long sought infamous yellow sports tunic.

Christmas has come early for Siena Archives. Wendy Edwards (Class of 1967) recently sent us a number of uniform items including the long sought infamous yellow sports tunic. We are so delighted and grateful.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have donated items this year. We have received photos, badges, pennants, a video, uniform items, reminiscences, a college spoon, magazines and books written by past students. We are very appreciative of the support we continue to receive from our Siena community.

Give a gift with impact this year. Pledge your support for First Nations families changing the future for the next generation of children in Central Australia and the Top End of the Northern Territory.

We are breaking the cycle.We are changing the system.We are Children’s Ground.

On 15 November, we commemorated the feast of St Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus), after whom our College Library is named.

On 15 November, we commemorated the feast of St Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus), after whom our College Library is named. A renowned theologian, bishop and Doctor of the Church, Albert (ca. 1200 - 1280) was born to a noble German family. Against their wishes he joined the Order of Preachers. The Dominicans at the time were caught up in the wave of learning sweeping Europe. Albert lectured in several German priories and was director of studies in Cologne. His pupils included Thomas Aquinas. Called “Great” because of his vast knowledge of chemistry, architecture, philosophy, music and mathematics, he helped organize the studies of the Dominican Order. He was also interested in the anatomy of living organisms and is patron saint of students of the natural sciences. In 2019, the Siena Albertus Magnus Library will be renamed the Albertus Magnus Learning Centre. We have re-envisioned the role of our Library and look to new and exciting ways to learn and interact in that space, including a new Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) area housing the 3D printers and other new technologies.

This week, we welcomed the next generation of ‘Siena women’, the 2019 Year 7 students. The Year 7 Transition Day is a highlight of Term 4 for the staff and the student leaders who were gathered at the front of the College to welcome them. The girls were whisked away to the St Catherine Centre to be welcomed by the College Captains elect, Jade Devlin and Charlotte Lack, and the Heads of Student Wellbeing. They follow in the footsteps of the many women who have graduated from our College over the past seventy-eight years and inherit a proud tradition. Over the next six years at Siena, they will learn the stories of Dominicans past and present and they too will write their story in the history of this College. May they flourish and grow to be the women they are meant to be and may the friendships and learning stand them in good stead throughout their lives. I look forward to meeting our new parents at the year 7 Information Evening this coming Monday, 19 November.

Year 12 exams continue for some students while others have celebrated as they finished their last VCE examination. We look forward to celebrating with all our Year 12 students and their families at the Graduation Ball next Thursday evening at Leonda by the Yarra. This will be the last time they will gather as a year level and an opportunity for staff and parents to wish them well as they contemplate new beginnings beyond Siena College. For students in other year levels, the exams and final assessments have just begun.

The Convent refurbishment is progressing well and we look forward to reopening the old wooden doors early next year. The Convent will be open to the community in March to allow everyone an opportunity to visit the new Heritage Centre and Boardroom and see the refurbished reception area. I thank all who transport students to and from school for your patience during these building works and the restricted access to the grounds and driveway.

The end of the school year brings with it many opportunities to gather as a community and we look forward to the Academic Awards Night, our 2018 Celebration of Sport and the other rituals and events that mark this season of the year.

Mass of Remembrance, St Mary’s House of Welcome Outreach, Australian Teens and Religion

Mass of Remembrance

November is a significant month of remembering in both secular and church calendars. Around 8 November, the Dominican family remember those who have died. On this day members of the Siena community gathered for a Mass of Remembrance to honour those who had died, especially in the past year. Candles were lit and loved ones named during the Gathering Rites and roses were presented to all assembled at the end of our liturgy prior to refreshments being enjoyed in the Conference Room. We are grateful to Sr Julianna Drobik OP, Cathy Carr and our celebrant, Fr Kevin Toomey OP for their organisation and support of this important Eucharist.

St Mary’s House of Welcome Outreach

St Mary’s House of Welcome opens the doors daily to over two hundred people living in ongoing poverty. Each year our College undertakes a Christmas Hamper Appeal to benefit this community– these are compiled in House Groups and staff groups across Siena. Please take the time to discuss your daughter’s contribution with her and visit https://www.smhow.org.au/ to find out more about this important justice initiative.

Australian Teens and Religion

In the 2016 Census people declaring that they have ‘no religion’ formed the largest response category in each age group until 65+, whilst migration continues to reshape Australia’s religious profile in unexpected ways. In this context a major study of Australian teenagers discovers the textures of their spiritualities. While most declare that they have ‘no religion’ that is in fact far from the whole story. Just released data provides the facts to help understand Generation Z who are the largest generation and the leading edge of the future. Read more here.

Years 9 - 11 Examinations

Our Year 11 students have commenced their examination period and we wish them all the very best. The Year 10s and Year 9s will commence exams on Friday, 23 November and Wednesday, 28 November respectively.

The examination timetable and the College expectations in relation to examinations have been emailed to all Year 9 to 11 students, parents and guardians. The exam timetables are also available on the Siena Central Portal for both parents and students. Subject teachers have published a revision package for each year level on Siena Central. Year 11 examination papers will be returned through House Group on Friday, 30 November and results will be available on Siena Central on Thursday, 29 November at 3:30pm. Year 9 and 10 examination papers will only be available in 2019, due to time constraints. However, Year 9 and 10 examination results will be published on Siena Central on Tuesday, 11 December at 3:00pm.

2019 HeadStart Program

We will once again run a Headstart program for our Year 11 and Year 10 students.

On Monday, 26 November, the current Year 11 students will undertake a five day Year 12 Headstart program concluding on Friday, 30 November. The current Year 10s will undertake a three day program commencing on Monday, 3 December and concluding on Wednesday, 5 December.

Each Year 12 subject will be allocated five periods and each Year 11 subject will have three periods allotted. Students will be given a brief overview of the course, as well as holiday home learning. Students will need to bring writing materials, but all other resources will be provided either via Siena Central or by the subject teacher.

Please note that 2019 staffing has not been finalised and therefore, the subject teacher who takes the Head Start class may not be the 2019 subject teacher.

End of Year Dates

Years 7 to 9 students will finish on Thursday, 6 December at 12:30pm.

We are looking forward to the celebration of our students’ academic accomplishments at our Academic Awards Evening on Wednesday, 12 December. Invitations to this event will be emailed to the award winners, their parents and guardians in the coming weeks.

The last VCAA Examination takes place on Wednesday, 21 November and the Year 12 results will be published on Friday, 14 December. There has been a wonderful, positive energy surrounding these examinations with students commenting on the fairness of the examination papers. Our students have been behaving in an exemplary manner and doing themselves and the College proud. With just a few exams remaining until Wednesday, many of our students will have finished their examinations or will do so shortly. May you and your families enjoy some much deserved relaxation. I would like to acknowledge and thank all of our Year 12 teachers who have worked tirelessly to prepare our students.

The following 37 students participated in an Australian Music Examinations Board practical exam this year. Congratulations to everyone involved for their hard work in preparing for the exam; we hope you found the experience educational and rewarding. The results were outstanding and reflective of the practice and effort you put into your instruments.

In 2019, a selection of sculptures from our Year 7 Art students will be on display at the Zart Art Exhibition..

In 2019, we will begin the year with a selection of sculptures from our current Year 7 Art students on display at the Term 1, Zart Art Exhibition. The artworks were generated during the 3D folio Unit where the girls were challenged to design and construct a Mythical Creature that also incorporated visual elements from Mexican folk art –Alebrijes. The sculptures utilised wire armatures as the framework on which a paper clay skin was applied and then painted in elaborate designs.

The exhibition opening is on Thursday, 20 December 2018. Congratulations to the following students who will have their artwork on display during Term 1, 2019 in the Zart Art Student Gallery at Box Hill:

It has been an exciting month for Mathematics at Siena College. Our Year 12 students have been working extremely hard in preparing for their VCAA examinations, completing a multitude of practice papers at school and at home. We hope they have been able to successfully navigate their way through the examination period, and we wish them well for the future.

Our Year 7 cohort had a visit from the World of Maths where they were able to do some fun hands on STEM activities in small groups.

In August a number of our students sat the Australian Mathematics Competition run by the Australian Mathematics Trust. The girls recently received a certificate with their results, with Maria Ng receiving a high distinction, placing her in the top twp percent across Australasia. We also had twelve students receive Distinctions across Years 7 to 10, with another thirty five also receiving Credits. We congratulate all the girls that participated and we look forward to providing them with further opportunities to challenge and extend themselves next year.

Thank you all for your cooperation and understanding with the parking restrictions and site traffic management thus far. As per our previous correspondence, there will be further changes from Tuesday, 20 November 2018 as we commence with the driveway works.

Buses will now collect and drop off students on Riversdale Road, between the entry and exit gates. This will become a bus only zone and will be sign posted by the Boroondara City Council. This means no parking or standing for cars in this zone. Staff will be present as students arrive and depart from buses.

To assist parents, the attached College map provides three options for morning and afternoon drop off/pick up, to alleviate pressure on limited parking and congestion in the narrow roads surrounding the school boundary:

1. Pedestrian Gate 7 (at the rear of the school, off Hocknell Street) will be open between 7.30am to 9.00am and from 3.00pm to 5.00pm 2. Pedestrian Gate 8 (off Wattle Valley Road) will be open from 7.30am 3. Pedestrian Gate 4 (adjacent to the gym on Riversdale Road) will also be open for student access, as normal

Please note there will be no pedestrian access to the College via Compton Street. By parking in a legal manner with consideration for our neighbours, congestion around the school grounds will be reduced and safety maintained. The safety of our students and easing congestion for busy parents are of paramount importance. We hope that these combined measures assist all parents as we undertake these vital building works.

In the latest edition of the Siena Career News there are important dates for Year 12’s, an Information Evening next week at Swinburne University and details of the Academy of Interactive...

In the latest edition of the Siena Career News there are important dates for Year 12’s, an Information Evening next week at Swinburne University and details of the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Open Day this weekend.

For current Year 10 and 11 students, there is information on a three day school holiday Science Program at Monash University from 9 - 11 January.

Open exhibitions include the Monash University MADA exhibition, the Whitehouse College of Fashion graduate’s exhibition and fashion runway and Deakin University’s Paperspace Exhibition which showcases the work of their Architecture students.

On 2 November, students from Years 7-10 completed a six week short film appreciation course.

On 2 November, students from Years 7-10 completed a six week short film appreciation course. The primary focus was to learn about suspense, theme, plot, and character by viewing a combination of award winning live action and animated short films. Prior to each viewing session, students learnt about the theory, students then watched the film(s), and finally students discussed the theory, drawing evidence from the films. Students reported that they found the films 'surprising' and 'clever', particularly when the films had twist endings.

Students who took part were Aurelia Tjitji, Cara Chen, Emily Ovens, Indira D'Sylva, Lucinda Burgin Uhlherr, and Olivia Redford.

Siena College is pleased to advise that the next stage of our parent portal, Siena Central, to go ‘live’ will be the 2019 fees schedule. Parents will be emailed a link and letter from th...

Siena College is pleased to advise that the next stage of our parent portal, Siena Central, to go ‘live’ will be the 2019 fees schedule. Parents will be emailed a link and letter from the Chair of the Siena College Board on Thursday, 22 November. All parents are encouraged to update their details via Siena Central and video tutorials are available to assist with the process. If you require any assistance, please contact ithelp@siena.vic.edu.au

Portsea is often called the playground for the rich and famous. Prominent in this seaside area is Delgany Castle, now part of a holiday resort and frequently advertised in the media. For the Dominican community, the excerpt above highlights our thoughts when we think of ‘Delgany’

We are fortunate to have in our Archives the above quoted issue of ‘The Dominican’. It gives an extensive physical description of Delgany and an account of the earliest days of the school.

Caring for deaf children has been a treasured ministry of our Dominican sisters. Siena students, especially of the 1950s and 1960s, had a particular connection to Delgany. Archival donations from our past students include photos of Delgany, its pupils and buildings. We have a letter from one Siena student, during a weeklong stay at Delgany, describing to another student the activities she is missing by not being there. A number of Dominican sisters, who are past students of Siena, taught at Delgany including Srs Frances Caine and Joan Winter.

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020...

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment information and our College Prospectus can be viewed online at www.siena.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-procedures

We farewelled our Year 12 students last week with a traditional sequence of events marking the end of their schooling at Siena College.

We farewelled our Year 12 students last week with a traditional sequence of celebrations and events that mark the end of their secondary education at Siena College. During Graduation Eucharist, the final assembly and morning tea, staff and students were able to reflect on this significant rite of passage and recall shared experiences and achievements. I commend the Class of 2018 on their dignified departure across these final days. We have been so pleased to see the manner in which they approached their VCE examinations which began this past Wednesday. We thank these students for their contributions to the life and ongoing story of the College. We sincerely wish them well for the remaining examinations and hope that they always remain connected to both each other and to the College.

I congratulate the The Arts and Technology Faculty for another impressive Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition which showcased some outstanding student work. The College Open Day on 20 October was also a great success and a wonderful opportunity for the College to showcase its comprehensive academic and cocurricular programs. I thank all students, staff and parents who have facilitated and supported these celebrations of all that our College has to offer.

November is the month of remembering. It is the time of the year when we celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls. Our Chapel will be the focus for our prayers across this time and I encourage all community members to visit this beautiful and peaceful space to remember those undertaking exams and those who have gone before us. In the words of Sr Elizabeth Helwig OP, 'We take time to remember all whose lives were stirred and transformed by a faith in what they could not see, those who became bearers of hope, healing, justice and peace for us and for our world.' All are welcome at our Memorial Mass at 7.00pm on Thursday, 8 November when we gather in our College Chapel to pray for those members of our community who have passed away in the last year. Just before recess on Friday, 9 November, we will gather beneath the flagpoles to commemorate Remembrance Day and all who have given their lives in service of their country. We give thanks for the peace we enjoy in Australia and pray for wisdom on the part of all world leaders so that the conflicts that divide peoples can be resolved and that all may live in peace.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,We will remember them.

Halloween

All Hallows = All Saints, Feast of All Saints/Hallows,1 NovemberE’en = Even(ing)Evening before the Feast of All Hallows = Halloween, 31 October

Before commercialism hijacked this beautiful commemoration many cultures remembered their dead around this time. It is felt to be when the veil between heaven and earth is at its most fine.

Mass of Remembrance

One of the obligations of Christians is to pray for the dead. It is also an important part of the Dominican spiritual tradition. Siena hosts a Mass of Remembrance close to the Church’s celebration of All Souls Day each year. This year’s Mass will be held in the College Chapel on Thursday, 8 November at 7.30pm.

Feast of St Martin de Porres (3 November)

A Dominican saint, Martin is the patron of mixed race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers and all those seeking racial harmony. Read more about him here.

Year 12 Graduation Eucharist

‘As much as you are a challenge, you are a gift to us too, as you are seeing your life, your family, our society through fresh eyes; you want to claim your independence and that may mean clashing with us, your family and friends – we accept that and promise to be with you in that; you have shown in your way of being here within the College that you are living and claiming some very important values – among them a passion for questions of justice… My personal wish for you is that you continue to allow your inner spiritual selves to grow strong. Look to the Creator, the God who is present to us in Jesus, who, whether we recognize it fully or not, is daily and always at your side, accompanying you at every moment, in the tough and dark times, as well in the good and joyous. Be messengers throughout your life of Siena College’s great motto: VERITAS, TRUTH. You know that this evocative word has stood you in good stead for the past six years. May it continue to be a reason for hope in yourselves and your best reason for living. And may God may go with you in truth, peace and love, throughout the joyous days of your future lives.’Fr Kevin Toomey OP

Term 4 is a hive of activity and preparation as the VCAA exams commence and our students in Years 9 to 11 prepare for their exams.

Term 4 is a hive of activity and preparation as the VCAA exams commence and our students in Years 9 to 11 prepare for their exams. Please remember that our staff and teachers are always available to offer help and support.

As we approach the weekend, we would like to remind you that the College is closed on Monday, 5 November, the day preceding Melbourne Cup Day. There will be staff supervising the VCAA examinations and monitoring phone messages but the College and Student Receptions will be closed.

Curriculum Writing Day

On Wednesday, 24 October, Siena College teaching staff participated in a highly productive day updating the curriculum and assessments dates in preparation for next year. The 2018 courses were reviewed with a focus on what the essential learnings are, for our students in 2019. Staff will continue to work on finalising the documentation that will then be uploaded onto Siena Central.

Siena Central

As our community becomes more familiar with the Parent Portal of Siena Central, it will become our primary method of communication and the information available to you will be gradually expanded. The College key dates, exam timetables and booklists are now available on the Parent Portal. We ask that you utilise this wonderful resource to assist you with sourcing information in regards to the College and our scheduled activities. When you log in to Siena Central the first page provides access to the ‘Tiles’ below, to facilitate your search. On the far right we have an ‘Important Information’ section that offers links to the most current and relevant documentation.

You are always welcome to contact the College if you experience any difficulty logging in or locating information.

During the second week of term, we celebrated The Arts and Technology Week culminating in the annual Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition

During the second week of term, we celebrated Arts and Technology Week culminating in our annual Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition. Artist in Residence, Lucile Sciallano introduced the girls to her 3D ceramic printing practice where the girls learnt how this method allows the production of artwork that is very different to that of traditional clay building techniques. Students also had the opportunity to view the Year 12 Drama Solo Performances prepared in readiness for their end of year examination. Other activities included an opportunity for students to create a painting using virtual reality equipment, experiment with robotics and join in a lunchtime disco. All these activities allowed students to participate and deepen their exposure to The Arts and Technology.

The Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition showcased diverse work from Year 7 to 12 students and it was wonderful to see the culmination of all the hard work and effort from the Year 12 students. I would like to thank our special guest speaker, Amanda Meiklejohn from Williams Ross Architects, who shared with us her career journey and kindly opened the exhibition. Across all areas of Art and Design, students produce many beautiful, creative and skilful works. Mietta Borg, Year 12, was the recipient of both the Principal's Award and People’s Choice Award with her mixed media conceptual artwork titled ‘38 months’, which explored her own personal journey with a medical condition. She is a very deserving winner who bravely dealt with an issue that was personal to her and others suffering from the same condition.

I would like to congratulate all the staff and students involved on a very successful Arts and Technology Week.

Young Adult author Ellie Marney visited Siena last week to work with the Year 9 English students...

Young Adult author, Ellie Marney visited Siena College last week to work with our Year 9 English students who are preparing for their next unit on ‘Crime Writing’. Ellie worked with each Year 9 class, talking to students about how she develops ideas for a crime story. Each class then worked together on their own story concept.

This was an invaluable experience for our students to learn how published authors develop story ideas. Students will continue working in their English classes on their own story concepts. We thank Ellie for spending time with our Year 9s and we look forward to seeing the thrilling crime stories they will produce!

Siena College has had a busy start to Term 4 GSV Sport, fielding several teams in Cricket, Water Polo and Basketball. Our Cricket teams have had mixed results so far, with the Junior team (pictured) overcoming Ruyton Girls’ School, while falling just short against Lauriston Girls’ School, losing by two runs in the last over. Our Junior Water Polo teams have had several weeks of training with an enthusiastic squad and have their first round of game this week. Our Basketballers continue to produce promising results, the standout teams so far have been the Junior B and C teams, which have won of all their games and currently sit first in their zones.

On Saturday, 20 October, Siena College Sport was on full display at our annual Open Day, with the final of the Tennis tournament and a number of Aerobics routines. Many prospective parents and students toured the College and were able to familiarise themselves with Siena’s sports facilities and GSV program. The final sporting event for the year, the Celebration of Sport Evening, will be held in December, where we will recognise the amazing sporting achievements of our students.

There are a number of individual sporting achievements to note:

Emer McGing, who finished as the National Champion in the Junior Ladies 17 Years Championships at the Australian Irish Dancing National Championships in Cairns. An outstanding achievement!

Victoria Zikas, Johanna Zikas and Laura Griss participated for the GSV Representative Soccer team at the Interstate Challenge competition in the Gold Coast. They won all four games against representative state teams to win the whole tournament.

Many thanks to Johanna Zikas and Chloe Dang for their efforts as Siena College Sports Captains for 2018, we wish them all the best for the future. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the 2019 Siena College Sports Captains: Monica Ciampa and Melitta Allen.

Rising Stars Concert

On Wednesday, 31 October all Year 7 Instrumental Music students performed in the inaugural Rising Stars Concert in the College Hall. The energy was electrifying from the student performers who thoroughly deserved the rousing audience applause. The concert included performances from Junior Band, Junior Choir, Junior Guitar Ensemble, Junior String Ensemble as well as solos, duets and chamber ensemble performances. It was a fantastic opportunity to feature our talented students in Year 7 and to celebrate how far they have come since the start of the year. Congratulations to all students and staff on a wonderful evening.

Summer Concert

The Summer Concert will be held on Wednesday, 5 December from 4.30pm at the rear of the school. This is a relaxed concert with many of the large and small ensembles performing pieces they have been working on this term, including Christmas carols. This is a whole school event and we warmly invite the wider Siena College community to come and enjoy the festivities.

Current year 10 students and families are invited to attend the Kopanang Immersion 2019 Information Evening, on Tuesday, 13 November at 6.30pm (Albertus Magnus Library).

Year 11 (2019) students have the opportunity to participate in what has been described as a life changing and enriching immersion program in South Africa. Kopanang is a womens' community project that addresses the impact of HIV/AIDS and endemic poverty in the township of Tsakane situated 55 km south east of Johannesburg. It is a township created as the labour force for the gold mines in the area through forced removal of people in the apartheid era. After the last mine closure in 2006 there has been an unprecedented level of unemployment impacting more than 80% of the population. Most of the women of Kopanang have been deprived of an adequate education, further exacerbating their ability to survive and provide for their families.

The Kopanang community project was cofounded by Sr Sheila Flynn OP to provide the women with a healing space to share their life experiences, their faith and cultural heritage and to learn embroidery and craft skills to enable them to generate a small income.

Students also assist at Sithand’izingane Care Project, located on the same site as Kopanang, which provides a child care program for pre-school children, many of whom are orphaned, a home based support program for the sick, a feeding program, tutoring and afterschool educational programs for the children and adolescents in the township. Students spend two weeks living with a host family in Tsakane and assist with the everyday programs offered at Kopanang.

This week’s edition of Siena Career News contains some very important information for Year 12s in particular, but will also be of interest to students and parents in other year levels.

This week’s edition of Siena Career News contains some very important information for Year 12s in particular, but will also be of interest to students and parents in other year levels. Students should always be aware of pathway courses into their 'dream course' at tertiary institutions and this week’s Siena Career News lists the best ways of entering particular universities in the event that you do not receive the ATAR required for your preferred course.

There are also timely suggestions regarding some useful websites and apps to assist with study skills and exam preparation, a new Diploma in Screen and Media at Holmesglen Institute and some new initiatives from Monash University. These include 'Parent Chat', information and advice for parents on science degree options at Monash and an event, 'Experience the Peninsula Campus' – with a focus on Para Medicine, Nursing and Education.

Our College register is precious. The beginnings of Siena come to life when we read the names, beautifully handwritten, of our first students.

College Register

Our College register is precious. The beginnings of Siena come to life when we read the names, beautifully handwritten, of our first students. The first page reveals the names of two very special women in our community. Loyis Gibson (née Olive) is student number seventeen and Sr Frances Caine is student number twenty-one. As Archivists, we note with interest that Loyis is spelt ‘Lois’ in the register. Both Loyis and Frances began their life at Siena on 4 February 1941. We value their wisdom, their memories, their donations, their support and especially their continuing presence and connection with our staff and students. We are blessed to have Loyis, Frances and other early alumnae as regular visitors to Siena.

Special thanks to Jacqui Raynor (née Harris).

At the end of last term, Jacqui donated a Siena College badge which had been worn by her family in the 1960s.

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020...

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment information and our College Prospectus can be viewed online at www.siena.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-procedures

We congratulate all of our students whose work was selected for this year's Shared Stories anthology, a joint project between twenty four Victorian regional and metropolitan Catholic seco...

We congratulate all of our students whose work was selected for this year's Shared Stories anthology, a joint project between twenty four Victorian regional and metropolitan Catholic secondary schools. This year's theme was 'Live Simply, Simply Live' and featured a diverse range of writing and artwork across all year levels. We are proud to share some excerpts of our student's work:

They are mammoth nowKnocking the breath from my chestBottomless mounds of blue, rising and falling mercilesslyRibbons of silty water twist along the deckFear is in my mouth and eyes and ears and heart

I am sittingIn the corner There is a gust of warm windAnd I hug my knees, shivering

Waves spit against the boatAnd sea spray covers my face like frecklesMy hunger is a monsterSnarling for attention, clawing at my insides

Surely it isn’t much further?

Juliet Guthrie, Year 9

Death and the girl looked at each other for quite some time.

‘Well, you’re here early,’ said Death eventually.‘I guess so,’ said the girl, ‘shouldn’t you be used to this by now?’‘I suppose I should be,’ sighed Death, ‘you don’t seem very frightened.’‘Yeah,’ said the girl, ‘I guess it can’t be helped.’

They were standing on a cliff at the edge of a forest. The sun was setting behind a vast skyline of trees, which stirred slightly every once in a while due to a rogue puff of wind. Two birds were singing gaily to each other in the distance.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018

We are once again so pleased to congratulate our Year 12 students on their outstanding results in the 2018 Victorian Certificate of Education. Our students are our greatest assets and the Class of 2018, like those before, have developed into articulate, accomplished and empowered young women during their time at Siena College.

3% of students achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) of 99 or above, placing them in the top 1% of students in the State

12% of students achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) of 95 or above, placing them in the top 5% of students in the State

28% of our students achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) of 90 or above, placing them in the top 10% of students in the State

57% of students, over half, achieved an ATAR of 80 or above, placing them in the top 20% of students in the State

The College maintained a Median Study Score of34 for the seventh consecutive year

17.5% of Study Scores were 40 or above, placing them in the top 9% of students in the State

Median ATAR of 83.73

Congratulations to 2018 College Dux, Katherine Kim, who achieved an ATAR of 99.85 and the following students who all scored over 99:Elizabeth Dee 99.75, Bianca Cleland 99.6, Lily Jackson-Martin 99.0

I thank and commend the Class of 2018 on the contribution they have made to Siena College over the past six years in all endeavours that they have pursued. Their leadership, service to others and their contribution to the cocurricular life of the College have added to the richness of our community. We are immensely proud of the young women they have become and I am confident that they will go on beyond the gates of Siena and make intelligent and responsible use of their personal gifts.

I would also like to acknowledge the expertise and guidance of our staff who have supported then throughout their time at Siena College.

Dear Parents and GuardiansWe wish to advise all parents that building works on the Convent are ongoing as the final stages of this project are completed. From the beginning of Term 1, th...

Dear Parents and Guardians

We wish to advise all parents that building works on the Convent are ongoing as the final stages of this project are completed. From the beginning of Term 1, the front carpark area and driveway will be unavailable for student drop off and pick up. The main entrance and exit gates on Riversdale Road will be accessible only to staff and buses. School buses will operate as normal, with additional barricading for student safety around the Convent.

To assist parents, the attached College map provides three options for morning and afternoon drop off/pick up, to alleviate pressure on limited parking and congestion in the narrow roads surrounding the school boundary:

• Pedestrian Gate 7 (at the rear of the school, off Hocknell Street) will be open between 7.30am to 9.00am and from 3.00pm to 5.00pm

• Pedestrian Gate 8 (off Wattle Valley Road) will be open from 7.30am

• Pedestrian Gate 4 (adjacent to the gym on Riversdale Road) will also be open for student access, as normal Please note there will be no pedestrian access to the College via Compton Street.

The safety of our students and easing traffic congestion for busy parents are of paramount importance. We hope that these combined measures assist all parents as we complete these vital building works. These restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

Thank you all for your cooperation and understanding with the parking restrictions and site traffic management thus far.

Dear Parents and Guardians

Thank you all for your cooperation and understanding with the parking restrictions and site traffic management thus far. As per our previous correspondence, there will be further changes from Tuesday, 20 November 2018 as we commence with the driveway works.

Buses will now collect and drop off students on Riversdale Road, between the entry and exit gates. This will become a bus only zone and will be sign posted by the Boroondara City Council. This means no parking or standing for cars in this zone. Staff will be present as students arrive and depart from buses.

To assist parents, the attached College map provides three options for morning and afternoon drop off/pick up, to alleviate pressure on limited parking and congestion in the narrow roads surrounding the school boundary:

1. Pedestrian Gate 7 (at the rear of the school, off Hocknell Street) will be open between 7.30am to 9.00am and from 3.00pm to 5.00pm

2. Pedestrian Gate 8 (off Wattle Valley Road) will be open from 7.30am

3. Pedestrian Gate 4 (adjacent to the gym on Riversdale Road) will also be open for student access, as normal

Please note there will be no pedestrian access to the College via Compton Street. By parking in a legal manner with consideration for our neighbours, congestion around the school grounds will be reduced and safety maintained. The safety of our students and easing congestion for busy parents are of paramount importance. We hope that these combined measures assist all parents as we undertake these vital building works.

Congratulations to Jade Devlin and Stephanie Rozario for being awarded the Kooyong Student Prize

Federal Member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg MP, invites all Kooyong schools to nominate two students each year in recognition of their academic and co curricular achievements. We are very pleased to announce that Jade Devlin and Stephanie Rozario were the worthy recipients from Siena College in 2018. Jade and Stephanie are pictured with Josh Frydenberg MP and Bernadette Donnolly, Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 22 November.

A warm welcome to the final term for 2018. It is good to be back after my time in South America over the holiday break.

At the core of a Principal’s role in a Catholic school, is that of faith leader. During my time at Siena College, the Board has supported periods of enrichment leave, most recently, my participation in an immersion program in South America organised by the Principals' Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools. The program was called ‘Çross and Resurrection’, and throughout my travels in El Salvador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, there were confronting, moving and inspirational encounters with both the cross and the resurrection. It was a most privileged experience.

I spent a night in the home of a family of ‘Campesinos’ in the province of Suchitoto outside San Salvador. The Campesinos are Salvadoran refugees who fled the impacts of war and guerrilla incursions. They settled in abandoned haciendas to build up communities and to secure a future for themselves and their children.

In San Salvador, I listened to the stories of people searching for traces of family members who have tried to cross borders to reach the United States and I heard how the trade in human lives is now more profitable in Central America than drug running. I celebrated Mass with religious and lay people working in areas that are scarcely habitable. I met people like eighty year old Sister of Charity, Peggy O’Neill who intentionally seeks to link her life and her mission to the poor. I learned the stories of martyrs like Australian Josephite Sister, Irene McCormack who was murdered in Peru in 1991 by members of the ‘Shining Path’, a Maoist rebel guerrilla organisation.

I felt I walked on ‘Holy Ground’ in many places, including the church where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated in 1980 and his simple home in San Salvador. When Archbishop Romero celebrated Mass and before his homily, he would read the names handed to him on all kinds of paper of those who had been killed or disappeared. Archbishop Romero was canonised on October 14 but it was obvious that the people of El Salvador had proclaimed him a saint a long time ago.

I came across Dominicans in the places I visited and heard again the stories of Antonio de Montesinos who preached against slavery and servitude in the 16th Century and Bartolome De Las Casas who started out as a slave owner but later felt compelled to oppose the abuses committed by colonists against the Native Americans. He gave up his Indian slaves, entered the Dominican Order and advocated on behalf of rights for the indigenous people. I lit candles and prayed for the Siena community at the shrine of Rose of Lima, a third order Dominican who is the Patron Saint of South America.

I visited remote missions in Bolivia with beautiful indigenous artwork gracing the walls of adobe churches, combining elements of 18th Century European and indigenous Indian architecture and decorative styles. The earthy ochre, orange and yellow colours of the painting on the walls and facades glowed in the gentle light of these churches. I encountered the Holy Spirit in the faith of the people and in a small string ensemble of local children aged twelve to fifteen in a Mission called Santa Ana. These children came from simple adobe homes in a village of no more than a few hundred people. They played Vivaldi and Mozart and Bolivian sonatas on cellos and violins in a church built by the indigenous people after the Jesuits were expelled in 1767. The Jesuits’ legacy of the previous eighty years persists in these beautiful churches, in the music of the children and in the faith of the local people. I was immersed in a theology of ‘God as friend’ who accompanies us, and an incarnational theology of encounter with the Divine when we ‘walk with’ the poor and the marginalised’.

In Cochabamba in Bolivia, I visited the Mayknoll Institute where many Australian missionaries have been trained or learned Spanish or indigenous languages prior to their ministry in South America. I met Gustavo Gutierrez, ninety year old Dominican Priest and theologian who is considered by many to have written some of the most significant theological texts of recent times. I also experienced the extraordinary beauty and splendour of the Andes mountains and the Inca legacy in places like Mach Picchu. I have returned with much to ponder, deeply moved by all who I met on my travels and the conversations with my fellow pilgrims.

It was lovely to hear students perform at the Cabaret Night held in the Susan Alberti Auditorium in the first week of the term. First time performers appeared along with some of our most accomplished music students, much to the delight of all who attended.

An enduring feature of Siena College is the strong sense of community. I am so very grateful for the contribution of parents and the generous and committed members of the Siena Parents’ Association, in particular, President Carmel Morabito for her leadership, her tireless efforts and regular presence at the College. I thank retiring members, Vice President Judy Bainbridge, Treasurer Linda Burton, and Mary Bohan the Uniform Shop Coordinator. In 2018, the Association raised more funds than ever before, an extraordinary effort for a group of volunteers. The Association hosted many events to welcome new parents or visitors, wish the Year 12s well as they commenced the year, support students and staff, and fundraise. I look forward to working with the new Committee to continue the invaluable work they do.

Next week we will farewell our Year 12 students and wish them well as they prepare for their final exams. This is a time of mixed emotions as we say goodbye, the enormous pride in seeing the extraordinary young women they have become, the memories of the girls they once were and the excitement of moving on to forge new pathways and new independence. I thank them for their contribution to the College over the past six years.

We pray…Over the school holiday break and over the past fortnight we have witnessed the forces of nature devastating lives in other parts of our worldGod of mercy and compassion, we ask...

We pray…

Over the school holiday break and over the past fortnight we have witnessed the forces of nature devastating lives in other parts of our world

God of mercy and compassion, we ask for your blessing on those whose lives have been affected by recent natural disasters. Comfort them in their loss of family, friends and community. Give them the gift of hope to see beyond their pain and loss.

Give strength to those who work with them to rebuild their families and communities. Bless them for their willingness to be with the grieving, the injured and the homeless.

Amen.

Visual and Performing Arts Week

“The artist is a witness of the invisible and works of art are the clearest proof that the incarnation is possible.” Pope Francis

Much has been written about the connection between the arts and spirituality; Dominicans through the ages have recognised the integral part that the arts play in preaching God’s Word to a hungry world.

During the course of this week students and staff have been provided with rich opportunities to engage with the arts on many levels – this experience of the transcendent though words, actions and images is very much a part of our charism and its appreciation of beauty in the everyday.

Learning and Teaching Curriculum Writing Day

Wednesday, 24 October is Curriculum Writing Day for teachers and therefore a student free day. Teachers work in teams to update the curriculum and assessment dates in preparation for 2019. It is a very productive day as our staff begin the process of reviewing 2018 courses and what the essential learnings are for our students.

2019 Year 10 to 12 Bring Your Own Device

Current Year 9 students who have been using an iPad over the last two years, may continue to bring that device to support their learning in 2019. Alternatively, students in Years 10, 11 and 12 may choose to bring another tablet or laptop to Siena College to use. The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program enables senior students to choose the technology that best suits their needs and learning style.

In 2019, we recommend one of three options; a Tablet, Windows Notebook Device or an Apple Notebook Device. We have a partnership with ‘CompNow’ who provide new devices at competitive prices. A letter will be sent shortly with further information regarding preferred devices.

VCAA Examinations

We wish all our students undertaking Unit 3 and 4 examinations the very best in their study and in their examinations. We would also like to acknowledge the dedication and work of our committed Year 12 teachers who have worked with our girls this year. We wish all students well as they prepare for these final semester examinations.

2019 Subject Selection

Over the next weeks, students will receive via email their 2019 proposed subjects and the Booklist package. If there are any issues with subject selections, students should contact Liz Carr. The dates for release are as follows:

Year 12 on 25 October

Year 11 on 1 November

Years 8, 9 and 10 on 8 November

2019 Year 7 families will be emailed next Thursday, 25 October regarding access to the parent portal, Siena Central. Here they can view book lists and iPad requirements.

Over the first week of the holidays, nine very fortunate Year 10 and 11 students had the privilege of participating in the Indigenous Immersion Program.

Over the first week of the holidays, nine very fortunate Year 10 and 11 students had the privilege of participating in Siena’s Indigenous Immersion Program in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The trip offered an authentic opportunity to learn more about ancient Aboriginal culture amidst the amazing landscape of the Australian outback.

To commence the trip, the Siena girls teamed up with Catholic Mission to host a soup van in Alice Springs. We offered both food and drink to indigenous and non indigenous locals, it was very humbling to offer small gestures of support to people facing a range of challenges. Our girls showed considerable maturity and empathy in helping people living with considerable disadvantage. The soup van gave us plenty to think about – particularly a reinforced sense of gratitude at how fortunate we are.

We were very grateful for the opportunity to immerse ourselves with indigenous students from Alice Springs’ Flexible Learning Centre throughout the trip. Together we explored beautiful parts of Alice Springs such as Simpsons Gap and Emily Gap, and learnt how to cook traditional kangaroo tail out in the hot Australian outback. Their continued presence and hospitality was invaluable and offered an authentic experience for our girls.

Towards the end of the trip, it was great to take a break and put our ‘tourist’ hats on and enjoy the magnificent sight of Uluru, both at dawn and dusk. The transforming colours of the rock face under varying degrees of light was amazing and provided plenty of great photo opportunities for our girls. Seeing such a cultural icon up close was unforgettable, and we were stunned by both its beauty and size. Our 10km walk around Uluru provided a chance to see the rock up close, including various waterholes and Aboriginal paintings at its base.

Each term, teachers and students focus on a different Learning Quadrant from our ‘Shared Understanding of Learning’ framework that reflects our pedagogical practice and promotes teaching ...

Each term, teachers and students focus on a different Learning Quadrant from our ‘Shared Understanding of Learning’ framework that reflects our pedagogical practice and promotes teaching and learning endeavours in the classroom. In Term 3, the focus was on the ‘Learning Skills’ quadrant:

Throughout Term 3, I was able to conduct Learning Walks with students from Years 7-12, asking them to reflect on how ‘skills’ have enhanced their learning in the classroom. These are some of the student responses:

What kinds of learning skills have you developed in this class?

‘Creative thinking’‘ to effectively plan my writing piece’‘to communicate my ideas in group discussions’‘to be more focused on independent learning’‘ I am able to locate information and analyse it’

How does your teacher enable you to use critical and creative thinking skills in the classroom?

‘through interactive learning: guided and independent practice’‘through group discussions and activities: learning from others’‘by allowing us to collaborate with others through seating plans and putting us into different learning groups’‘by encouraging us to ask questions and to find out the answers ourselves’

‘sometimes it is better to work on your own to really test your learning and understanding’‘teachers sometimes encourage us to take risks when learning something new’‘the teacher challenges me to learn new things – step out of our comfort zone’‘by asking us to answer questions in front of the class’‘allowing me to make mistakes and learn from them’

This term we will focus on the fourth and final quadrant – Learning Relationships:

Our learning focus in Term 4 will be on continuing to forge strong working relationships in the classroom between students and teachers and students and students to build on the skills of collaboration and continuing to foster learning partnerships in the classroom to maximise successful learning outcomes.

Cabaret Night

The inaugural Cabaret Night was held 11 October in the Susan Alberti Auditorium. It was a terrific evening featuring Siena’s pianists and vocal students and students from Years 7-12 were very excited to perform for an appreciative audience. The vocalists performed contemporary repertoire and the pianists performed a wide range of solos. I would also like to acknowledge the ‘house band’ and the instrumental teachers for preparing students for the evening. It was fantastic to see so many students who have limited experience performing solos performing so well.

Clarinet Workshop Day

On Monday 15 October all the Siena College clarinettists attended a clarinet workshop day with Georgina Oakes. Georgina is an internationally recognised clarinettist with experience as a soloists and orchestra player. Our students participated in masterclasses, performed in a combined clarinet ensemble and they were amazed at Georgina’s recital. Thank you to Mr Ed Ferris for organising such a wonderful learning opportunity for our students.

Siena College has begun Term 4 sport with a busy first few weeks, with senior cricket and basketball games being held twice a week. Junior and intermediate basketball for Girls’ Sport Vic...

Siena College has begun Term 4 sport with a busy first few weeks, with senior cricket and basketball games being held twice a week. Junior and intermediate basketball for Girls’ Sport Victoria (GSV) has also started, with fixtures through until late November. Siena College has had mixed results in basketball, with our senior (2 teams) and junior (6) teams winning and losing similar amounts of games, as well as our senior cricket team off to a strong start, beating Our Lady of Sion College and Ivanhoe Girl’s Grammar School comfortably. Siena College’s junior water polo and junior cricket teams commence shortly. All the best to all of our teams for the season ahead.

Siena College Sport is looking forward to the annual College Open Day, with the Latingata Morrom gymnasium open to prospective students and parents, showcasing the fantastic facilities and programs on offer. We will also have the final of our Tennis tournament and our school aerobics team will have an opportunity to display their fantastic national routines. Our annual Celebration of Sport evening is also fast approaching (more details to follow), where we will be celebrating the fantastic year of sport and the team and individual achievements.

Late in Term 3, six politically astute students attended the Victorian Secondary Students Parliamentary Constitutional Convention

Late in Term 3, six politically astute students attended the Victorian Secondary Students Parliamentary Constitutional Convention to debate the interesting topic, "Does the Constitution meet the needs of Modern Australia?". Students from thirty schools across Victoria debated and discussed in Victorian Parliament's Legislative Assembly chamber and ultimately strongly disagreed with the proposition. Congratulations to Mia Horozides, Teagan Matthews, Jema Mueller, Katya Scacco, Annie Walsh and Natasha Walsh for representing Siena with pride and talent. They now have the chance to be selected for the National Convention in Canberra in March 2019. .

The buzz was electric at Kingswood College on Wednesday 10 October for the Year 8 Academic Challenge.

The buzz was electric at Kingswood College on Wednesday 10 October for the Year 8 Academic Challenge. Siena’s Year 8 students Sienna Justus, Trinity Ng, Lucy O’Connell, Pia Perini, Mikayla Rollnik, Charlotte Ryan, Maliana Tapusoa and Aurelia Tjitji joined with 107 enquiring minds across eight schools testing their skills in Mathematics, Science, General Knowledge, Public Speaking, English, Code Braking, Poetry and Art. The event embodied the collegiate spirit with each team composed of mix of student from different schools. These events provide our students with precious opportunities to expand their minds and develop healthy networks with like minded students.

Building works have commenced on our iconic Convent and Cloisters, as we transform this area into the Gateway of the College.

Building works have commenced on our iconic Convent and Cloisters, as we transform this area into the Gateway of the College. We thank all parents for their patience and understanding during these works.

The latest edition of the Siena Career News features some reminders about important dates for Year 12s as well as information on the new UCAT test for entry into Medicine courses

The latest edition of the Siena Career News features some reminders about important dates for Year 12s as well as information on the new UCAT test for entry into Medicine courses in Australian Universities. There is also information on a Maths bridging program run by Swinburne University for students who do not have the VCE Maths recommended for the undergraduate degree of their choice at Swinburne. Health Sciences are always popular course choices for our students but many are unaware of the benefits of studying Orthoptics, this week’s newsletter explains what Orthoptics is and where a degree in Orthoptics can take you.

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensur...

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment information and our College Prospectus can be viewed online at www.siena.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-procedures

Another busy and productive term has drawn to a close and I am sure all in our community are looking forward to a few weeks of a slower pace and some time to reflect.

Another busy and productive term has drawn to a close and I am sure everyone in our community is looking forward to a few weeks at a slower pace and some time to reflect.

Last week we conducted interviews for 2019 College Captains. Eight students undertook a rigorous process of application, an interview with the Leadership Team and the presentation of their speeches at the College Assembly, to students and staff. Each student spoke passionately and eloquently and it was wonderful to see such strong role models among our senior students. We thank all students for their outstanding contributions and warmly congratulate Jade Devlin and Charlotte Lack, our College Captains for 2019.

Fourteen students and three staff departed earlier this week for the Chinese Culture and Language Trip. Another nine students and two staff left yesterday for Central Australia as part of the Indigenous Immersion experience with the Catholic Mission group. We look forward to hearing of their travels on their return in Term 4.

We have had cause to celebrate this week with some wonderful individual and team results:

Edie Mitra (Year 8) represented Victoria at the School Sports Australia Diving Championships in Perth, placing fourth in the one metre and three metre Springboard events and achieving a silver medal in the Team Synchro competition

Jemma Rigoni (Year 8) won bronze in the GSV 400m Athletics finals for her age group

Our Aerobics team achieved remarkable results at the National AeroSchools Championships on the Gold Coast. Jessica Higgins (Year 7), Olivia Kershaw (Year 8) and Ella Graham (Year 8), coached by Chelsea Buswell (Year 11), placed first in their division. All results are published in Sporting News

As we commence Pillar IV of the Butterfly Campaign, Transforming the Convent into the Gateway of the College, we remind families that building works will commence over the holidays. There will be disruption to access from the beginning of Term 4 with the front carpark and driveway unavailable for student drop off and pick up. Communication has been sent to families regarding alternate drop off points. Please click here for further information.

Mrs Robson-Garth is presently on enrichment leave as part of the retired and current Principals tour of South America. The tour has included visits to missions in Bolivia, work with Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ) and visits to places of Dominican significance including the Las Casas Institute. She writes of her experience:

I have no words to describe this amazing place. There is a deep sense of spirituality and the most amazing mountains I have ever seen. We have had some very moving and confronting experiences, meetings with people in El Salvador searching for loved ones who disappeared through Mexico trying to get to the US, visiting a memorial to over 70,000 who were killed in Peru by the Shining Path, including Josephite Nun Irene McCormack and children as young as three. Yesterday, in contrast to the impressive Spanish architecture of Lima, we visited an area in the outskirts called Canto Grande that people are flooding into. We also met the father of liberation theology, ninety year old Gustavo Gutierrez and visited the place where Archbishop Romero was killed.

We wish all students, staff and families a safe and relaxing holiday break. We hold the Year 12 students in our thoughts and prayers as they undertake trial exams during the second week of the holidays and as they prepare for their final VCE examinations. Term 4 commences for students on Monday, 8 October.

Year 12 students marked their final Religious Education class for the year

Celebrate Year 12

Year 12 students marked their final Religious Education class for the year on Thursday in a moving Liturgy .The gathering was launched with a special message from Mrs Robson-Garth in Peru, accompanied by some of the beautiful images from her pilgrimage to South America. Ministry Captain, Mia Catalano led the Liturgy where girls added to a cumulative reflection on their Siena experience and College Captains, Antoinette Collins and Hannah Petrowski shared their insights on the 2018 College Theme, 'One Body, Many Parts'. Teachers offered readings based on this theme and returned letters that the girls had written in one of their first Religious Education classes in February, outlining their hopes and dreams for their final year of school. Heartfelt thanks to Year 12 Catholic Studies teachers and student leaders for assisting in the preparation of this celebration.

Blessing of Immersion Participants

In the Christian tradition it is commonplace to send travellers on their way with the blessing of the community, and so we gathered with the 2018 Indigenous Immersion cohort on 13 September to celebrate the Eucharist together. At the end of the Eucharist, College Chaplain, Fr Kevin Toomey OP blessed our Immersion participants with the following words:

God of all pilgrimsyou walk with us on every step of our journey.Bless these travellers Siena’s participants in the 2018 Indigenous Immersion experience.May they travel lightly with:eyes that are open to the beauty around them,ears that are open to stories of dignity and painhearts that are open to signs of hopeminds that are open to new perspectives and insightsand hands that are stretched out in friendship.

May they travel with our prayers, good wishes and trust.May those that remain behind journey with our travellersas we gaze nightly on the moon and stars.May Dominic guide them to share the Good News in their deeds and words.May Catherine inspire them to be truly at one within themselves.

We ask our good and gracious God to guide and protect each one of you and return you safely to our community with stories of an ancient people striving for justice and equity, faith, hope and love.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all parents and guardians who attended the recent Parent Teacher Interviews. Just a reminder that the 2018 Term 3 Interim Reports can be downloaded from Siena Central.

Unit 3 and 4 Trial Examinations

The Unit 3 and 4 trial examinations will run from Monday, 1 October to Thursday, 4 October. Students will receive their corrected trial examination papers in Term 4. A statement of trial examination results will also be available for parents to access on Tuesday, 16 October.

Term 3 Holidays

There will be no set holiday learning for Year 7 to 9 students, however, Year 10 and 11 students will have holiday home learning. Students undertaking a Unit 4 subject will need to use their holiday break well in order to prepare for the trial examinations and the upcoming VCAA examinations.

Members of the Siena Community gathered together on Friday, 7 September to participate in the annual Night of Change. Students, parents and staff entered into the evening with high spirits and generous hearts. Siena musicians, including the Stage Band and Year 12 students, entertained the crowd with their usual high quality performances. Families, friends and colleagues sat in teams, shared food and participated in Disco Bingo, Trivia and Silent Auctions.

The night is a major fundraising event for the Kopanang Community in South Africa. Participants from the 2018 South African Immersion shared their personal experiences and stories of the privileged time spent living with these wonderfully stoic, inclusive, funny and empowering women.

The evening was a wonderful success and a reflection of the hard effort and dedication of our Student Representative Council (SRC) and the generosity of Siena families and local businesses who donated services or products for the Silent Auction and other prizes. Our Night of Change raised just over $5500, all of which will be donated to the Kopanang Community Trust. The funds will go towards improving the lives of the women and families of Kopanang.

Ella Gurry and Tess Hayes also performed brilliantly but were unlucky not to place in the Level 5 Intermediate Pairs. Congratulations to all students, including Chelsea Buswell (Year 11) for coaching the winning team, and to staff and parents who accompanied the girls. A wonderful team effort!

Well Done, Edie

Congratulations are extended to Edie Mitra, Year 8, who recently represented Victoria at the School Sports Australia Diving Championships held in Perth. Edie placed fourth in her one metre and three metre Springboard events and achieved a silver medal in the Team Synchro competition. Edie was very pleased with her dives and her achievements are a wonderful acknowledgement of the commitment and dedication she displays to her sport.

GSV Results

Wrapping up a full season of Athletics, nine Siena College students participated in the GSV Athletics Finals at Lakeside Stadium on 11 September. All students did their best and represented Siena College with distinction, particularly Jemma Rigoni who won bronze in the Year 8 400m event. All of the students who came to the weekly training sessions and various GSV Athletics events throughout the term are to be congratulated on an exciting and successful season for Siena College.

Siena College was well represented at the GSV finals, with the Second Intermediate Volleyball team finishing winners for their division and finishing third overall. All three Junior Year 8 teams finished winners of their divisions, with the B team finishing premiers and the A and C teams runners up. Our Junior and Intermediate Soccer teams also performed extremely well, both winning their divisions and finishing runners up overall, with both teams showing a positive attitude and strong commitment. Well done to all of the participants for Volleyball, Soccer and Badminton, who gave their best each week at training and during matches, all contributing to a successful term of sport for Siena College.

We are eagerly anticipating Term 4, with many students involved in GSV Water Polo, Outdoor Cricket and Basketball. The final sporting event for the year will be the 2018 Celebration of Sport evening, details for which will be provided in Term 4. We look forward to an exciting term ahead and wish everyone a good holiday.

Siena dads, have you booked you ticket to our upcoming Dads' Night In? Exciting news: we have secured Jade Rawlings, former AFL star, 2018 VFL Coach of the Year and Siena parent as our guest speaker. We are looking forward to a great night of fun, complete with barbecue, wine tasting (with thanks to Mitchelton Wines), virtual reality games, raffles and more. Click the image below to book:

In partnership with The Ark Clothing Co., we would like to extend an invitation

In partnership with The Ark Clothing Co., we would like to extend an invitation to our community to attend our Fashion Show on Friday, 26 October at 7.00pm in the Susan Alberti Auditorium.

Siena alumna, Megan Sloley (Class of 1983) has joined The Ark Clothing Co. and her team have put together a Fashion Show that provides our guests with an opportunity to view The Ark’s new summer collection. The clothing will be modelled by The Ark employees and the styles cater for all ages and body shapes. Ticket price also includes canapés, drinks and a Personal Styling voucher valued at $25.

On Wednesday 12 September, six Year 12 Siena Students participated in the St Vincent de Paul Street Retreat program.

On Wednesday, 12 September, six Year 12 Siena Students participated in the St Vincent de Paul Street Retreat program. The opportunity, open to school students aged sixteen years and over, allows students to shadow the Fitzroy Soup Vans for the evening. The vans run each night and stop at numerous locations throughout the city, providing warm meals, sandwiches, hot drinks and items such as socks, underwear, personal hygiene products, beanies and blankets to those experiencing homelessness.

It is both a humbling and eye opening experience to come face to face with people who are in such desperate circumstances. Through smiles, conversations, laughter and the simple act of sharing food with each other, barriers between our students and these individuals diminished. Vinnies aims to ensure that, through their services, the dignity of each individual is maintained.

Siena students benefited greatly from this opportunity, reflected in their testimonies below. The school program is exceptionally well organised, with students thoroughly briefed before they depart for the evening. We look forward to being more actively involved in this program in 2019.

Student Reflections:

'On entering the Street Retreat program held by Vinnies, I was unsure of what to expect. I found that we were fully immersed in the evening and felt a greater sense of community hidden amongst the Melbourne CBD, between the students, other volunteers and those currently experiencing homelessness. I found the whole experience inspiring and felt a real generosity between all the people I met during the evening. I learnt from this experience that something as small as a smile has the ability to bring happiness into an individual’s day and to broaden the sense of community in Melbourne. I am definitely keen to take part in more volunteer work like this in the future!' Melanie Myrtle

'On reflecting on the opportunity to volunteer with the Vinnie’s soup van, the aspect that struck me the most was the invisibility of homelessness in our society. I have enjoyed walking these same streets with my family and friends and have never realised the sheer numbers in our city who experience homelessness, nor the difference both a nutritious meal and a human connection could make to someone experiencing homelessness. That a simple smile or look in the eye can make a difference in a person’s day and to their feeling of self-worth and dignity. We learnt about a regular client of the service who took two buses and a tram and then rode his bike to one of the city stops, only to decline any offers of food. He just wanted the conversation. He followed the van to each of the other stops to continue the conversation throughout the night. It made me aware how overlooked and ignored people experiencing homelessness often are, and how invisible they must feel. I met a man who, during his career, had made valuable engineering contributions to Melbourne. He now experiences homelessness. I also met a woman who had fled domestic violence that night and was experiencing her first night on the street. She had nothing but the clothes she was wearing. Volunteering with the Van made me feel so grateful for everything I have and to reaffirm to myself to never take anything for granted as our lives can change in a minute. I would encourage everyone to participate in this volunteering experience.' Grace Oliver

'It was surreal to drive around a less crowded Melbourne city with the Soup Van. The stark contrast of visiting the city's icons, such as Federation Square and the Queen Victoria Market, during a week night provides a completely different perspective of our society. I continue to reflect on the variety of situations that led to these people needing the support of Vinnies. Some were fleeing domestic violence or had experienced a relationship breakdown, while one man had been coming to the Soup Van for over forty years after being the innocent victim of a coward punch. The experience working on the Soup Van was a rewarding reminder of life beyond school. The smiles, optimism and gratitude encountered highlights that even when lifes greatest challenges present themselves, we must continue to provide solidarity as the greatest support.' Madeleine Harriss

On Tuesday 18 September, five chess club students headed off early for Castlemaine to attend the Mount Alexander Schools Chess Challenge

On Tuesday 18 September, five chess club students headed off early for Castlemaine to attend the Mount Alexander Schools Chess Challenge, which was held in the historic Old Castlemaine Gaol.

Schools competing on the day included Castlemaine Secondary College, Girton Grammar, Bendigo South East, Melbourne High, Olivet CC, and Siena College. The games were timed with students playing seven games each over the course of the day. The chess tables were set up in the corridors of the gaol, with prison cells either side. The cold eeriness of the cells brought to the students the harsh reality of the living conditions of the inmates during the operating time from 1861 until 1990. And the solitary confinement of each stone walled cell reflected the solitary concentration the students have during a game of chess. The only noise you could hear was the clicking of the timers after every turn. I’m not sure if the chill in the air was the actual temperature or the ghosts of prisoners that were hanged for their crimes in days gone by, their bodies buried somewhere on the gaol grounds, standing upright so their souls would never be free.

The results of the day were outstanding, a gold medal to Jasmine Skutela (Year 9) and a Silver medal to Angelina Rodos (Year 7) for coming first and second respectively in the girls division. Both girls along with Zoe Kelly have qualified for Chess Victoria State Girls Final.

The Chess Club will continue next term, Wednesday lunchtimes and the Secondary Girl’s State Final will be held on Tuesday 16 October at St Catherine’s School, Toorak. Parents are welcome to attend the event.

1600 students from 27 countries from as far away as Canada, Jakarta and Dubi participated in the World Scholars Cup Global Round in Melbourne.

The World Scholars Cup Global Round in Melbourne saw 1600 students from 27 countries descend on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with some travelling from as far away as Canada, Jakarta and Dubai. The extravaganza ran over six days (17-21 August) in the beautiful South Wharf area with various competitions at host schools around Melbourne. The goal of this competition is to inspire in young people a love of learning, confidence in new skills and a sense of global citizenship.

Our intrepid scholars Mia Kelly, Lauren Edwards, and Jessica Higgins experienced the hectic pace of scavenger hunts, keynote speeches, panel discussions, the signature Scholar’s Ball, community-building events and rigorous competitive events. A true experience in debate, and build new friendships among fellow scholars from all over the world. Our Siena students found the experience immensly rewarding as they’ve expressed in their following reflections.

Student Reflections

“World Scholars Cup was an amazing experience, that provided a platform for students to connect and learn together, and meet people their age from all over the world. I learnt a lot from this experience, not only about the topics we were studying, but also social skills and creating new relationships with those around me. It taught me how to effectively study, and how to memorise large amounts of work. World Scholars Cup has given me a platform to make long lasting friendships with people all over the world, and has helped me gain lots of academic, and social knowledge.”Jessica Higgins, Year 7

“At World Scholars Cup I learnt many things and was immersed in different cultures and their traditions. During the global round 1,600 students from all around the world came together not only to enhance our learning and overall knowledge but to learn things we could not learn at school or anywhere else. There were six different subject areas we had to study - science, literature, music, social studies, history and the special area. These topics can be applied to all my schoolwork especially English and science as we really focused on those subjects especially the science of memory, the nervous system, films and literature of all forms. I really enjoyed that we had multiple events and activities that allowed us to merge with the other teams and countries and make new friendships that will last even after our time at world scholars is finished.”Lauren Edwards, Year 7

The 2018 Victorian Chinese Language Teachers’ Conference was held at Camberwell Grammar School on 7 - 8 September. It was at Camberwell Grammar sixty years ago that Chinese language was taught for the first time in Victoria, and actually anywhere outside of China except for some Asian countries. Chinese has now become the most spoken community language in Victoria and one of the most taught languages in Victorian schools.

To celebrate this milestone, special guests were invited to the Conference to congratulate the achievements made by Chinese teachers. Among them were Josh Frydenberg, Deputy Liberal Leader and Treasurer, Mr Zeng Jianhua, Acting Consulate General of the PRC in Melbourne, Dr Fuxin Li, the President of CLTFA, and Mr Jixing Xu, President of CLTAV.

“Learning a language is a window to another culture, a window to tolerance, and a window to friendship,” said Mr Frydenberg.

Dr Jane Orton, the Graduate School of Education, the University of Melbourne talked about “developing quality and sustainable Chinese programs...(these) are not outcomes, but comprehensive strategies”, she explained. Dr John Tuckfield of Camberwell Grammar has been teaching Chinese for thirty years and said that Australian Government language policy change has shown a shift from the Eurocentric policy to a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

The keynote speeches were followed by group discussions on the updated VCE Chinese Study Designs to be implemented next year and beyond. A high school music band from China and some students from local schools performed traditional and modern Chinese music and dance, which was greatly appreciated by the audience.

This week’s Siena Career News contains a reminder for Year 12s to complete their VTAC application and pay the application fee by 27 September.

This week’s Siena Career News contains a reminder for Year 12’s to complete their VTAC application and pay the application fee by 27 September. The closing date for SEAS and Scholarships is 12 October. Information sessions for extension programs at the universities are all listed – this will be of interest to students in Year 11 who are considering studying a University subject as part of their VCE.

The reunion season at Siena is busy and exciting for both the Alumnae Office and for the archivists.

The reunion season at Siena is busy and exciting for both the Alumnae Office and for us in Archives. It gives us the opportunity to research and find memorabilia, photos, magazines, events, trophies, awards and yearbooks relevant to the past students who are attending the reunion.

On the day itself, it is such a joy to see the women (and their inner student) greet former classmates with shrieks of recognition, laughter and hugs. The volume and level of chatter increases as each new group of friends arrive.

It is very rewarding for us, as archivists, to see the women huddled in groups, looking at the PowerPoint, searching the photos on display boards and perusing items on the tables of memorabilia. It is a privilege to witness the bond between these women of all ages and their Siena.

We would especially like to thank Janine Bucci (Class of 1989) who recently donated her blazer and sports uniform to the Archives. We are always grateful for donations, especially those which fill the gaps in our collection.

Each year the Siena Parents’ Association (SPA) hold a second hand Book sale with the support of the College, the Siena community and volunteers to assist in the sale, purchase and donatio...

Each year the Siena Parents’ Association (SPA) hold a second hand Book sale with the support of the College, the Siena community and volunteers to assist in the sale, purchase and donation of student books.

This valuable service provides families the option to buy/sell preloved student books whilst assisting the SPA to fundraise and ultimately reinvest in College facilities to enrich our daughters’ College experience.

This year SPA has engaged Recycled Text books for the Second Hand Book Sale. Further correspondence relating to the intake of books and sale will be emailed to parents early next term, along with the second hand book list. In the interim please diarise the following days:

Intake Days for second hand books

Wednesday, 5 December 8.30 – 10.00am Intake day for books from Year 7 and Year 8 StudentsThursday, 6 December 8.30 – 10.00am Intake day for books from Year 9 – 12 studentsFriday, 7 December 8.30 – 10.00 am Intake for all year levels

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment forms and Prospectus packs are available from Reception or on the College website

We are pleased to introduce our 2019 School Captains, Jade Devlin and Charlotte Lack. All of our applicants attended the Pillars Leadership course over two afternoons, which explored what it means to be a Dominican Leader, identified the College’s expectations of our leaders and explored the challenges of juggling leadership with senior studies. Girls benefited from hearing the lived experiences of our 2018 College Captains and other Senior Leaders as they discussed their 2018 leadership journey.

Students completed a written Expression of Interest for the position of College Captain and were interviewed by Ms Donnelly, Ms Thompson, Ms Levett and Ms Ilott. They addressed the entire College at a formal assembly held on Friday, 14 September in which they shared their ideas about and vision for leadership at Siena.

A reminder that our annual Visual Art and Technology Exhibition opens this Friday, 19 October 2018 at 6.30pm. .

A reminder that our annual Art and Technology Exhibition opens this Friday, 19 October 2018 at 6.30pm. Featuring select Year 7 to 12 student work, the exhibition will continue on Open Day, Saturday, 20 October 2018 from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Year 12 student Emer McGing has been awarded the 2018 National Irish Dancing Champion

Year 12 student Emer McGing is the 2018 National Irish Dancing Champion following the National Championships recently held in Cairns. Emer competed over six days from 2-7 October in the Junior Ladies 17 years Championship category. Along with perpetual trophies, Emer has been awarded a bursary to assist with her travels next year to the World Championships in the United States. Congratulations Emer!

As I look back over this past term, there have been many moments where I have been inspired...

As I look back over this past term, there have been many moments where I have been inspired by members of the Siena community, both past and present. On Saturday, 1 September, the College Hall was filled with the buzz of conversation as alumnae from the Class of 1978 and Class of 1988 gathered to celebrate decade reunions. We welcomed back past Principal, Sr Rosemary Lewins who concluded her time at Siena in 1978. There was much reminiscing, a tour of the College and an enthusiastic rendition of an old school song about Siena Convent girls.

Congratulations and thanks are extended to Director of Music, Kerryn McGillen and all involved in the Siena Music Concert, Sisterhood. It was lovely to see the pride and range of emotions on the faces of the students who performed and I thank everyone involved for the expertise and hours of effort invested in the evening and in all the preparation that preceded it. Once again, it was a real reflection of our 2018 College theme, ‘One Body, Many Parts’, with each contribution so important to the final outcome. Events such as this bring our community together and the evening was much appreciated by proud parents and grandparents too.

On Wednesday, 5 September, I was inspired by the finalists in the 2018 Antonio de Montesinos Award for Public Speaking. Four students entered the competition: Micayla Victor of Year 7, Jade Devlin in Year 11, Year 12 student, Ella Frausing and Amanda Marasco of Year 9. All spoke with passion and eloquence on the College theme ‘One Body, Many Parts’, making associations with topics of concern to them. They addressed issues including recycling of plastics, the need to focus on our shared humanity rather than difference, the perceptions of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and on belonging and acceptance. Annelise Skliros, the Debating and Public Speaking Vice Captain, did an outstanding job in hosting the evening. Congratulations are extended to Amanda Marasco who was given the Encouragement Award and Jade Devlin who was the 2018 recipient of this prestigious award. My thanks are extended to Alan Anderson for encouraging and supporting our students in their public speaking endeavours this year, and to the adjudicators who were faced with a very difficult because of the excellent standard of the speeches.

The Siena public speaking award is named after Dominican Friar, Antonio de Montesinos who, over five hundred years ago, preached a powerful sermon on behalf of his community that challenged the Spanish rulers in the Dominican Republic at the time about their treatment of the local indigenous people. His powerful words continue to challenge us as we engage with the issues of our time: ‘… by what right and by what justice do you keep these Indians in such cruel and horrible servitude?… Are they not human?... Are you not bound to love them as you love yourselves?’ As members of a Dominican College, we too are called preach the Gospel by the way we live our lives, by what we say, what we write and what we do.

There are many stories of Dominicans in South America and their role in preaching justice. On Friday, 7 September, I am heading off on an immersion program offered by the Principals’ Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools. The focus is on spiritual enrichment, Catholic Social Teaching and the role of the Principal as Faith Leader. In 2018, the program has added appeal for me because of the Dominican history in South America and the stories of the early Dominicans like Antonio De Montesinos and his community. The immersion will be lead by Dr James Nickoloff who is the Associate Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and by Jesuit, Fr Tom Martin who will be the Spiritual Director.

The program will include time with a group called CRISPAZ, Christians for Peace in El Salvador. The information provided by CRISPAZ states the following: ‘The CRISPAZ El Salvador Encounter is for people who are willing to have their lives touched and forever changed. …To participate in an El Salvador Encounter is to enter into an ongoing dialogue which we hope will challenge and change your heart, mind, and spirit.’ I will have the opportunity to meet with Salvadorans, hear their stories, and accompany them for a short time in their daily lives. Other countries visited include Bolivia and Peru that are at the heart of the Liberation Theology movement in the Catholic Church and the forming of people such as Archbishop Oscar Romero, Gustavo Gutierrez who is a Dominican Priest and Pope Francis. I will visit Dominican Centres as well as Jesuit Missions in Bolivia.

I will be away from the College from September 8 until October 3 during which time, Bernadette Donnelly will be Acting Principal. I thank Bernadette for taking on these additional responsibilities.

Just prior to my departure, I attended a breakfast together with eight of our Year 12 Politics students, Catherine Judd and Patricia Cowling who is the Deputy Chair of the Siena College Board. The breakfast was hosted by the Honourable Member for Kooyong and new Treasurer, Josh Frydenburg, and the new Education Minister, Dan Tehan, We were pleased to be invited and to be able to advocate for a better funding deal for Catholic schools like Siena College.

While I am away in South America and as the term draws to a close, I will be thinking of the Siena community and the Year 12s in particular. I will light a few candles and say a few prayers for everyone at places of special significance. I look forward to sharing my experiences on my return.

Siena students were privileged to attend the White Rose Mass at Xavier College Memorial Chapel

'The real damage is done by those million who want to “survive”. The honest people who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives to be disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no cause. Those who don’t like to make waves – or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature.' Sophie Scholl, White Rose member (1921-1943)

Matilda Baker, Georgia Smith and Jana Lianos were privileged to attend the White Rose Mass at Xavier College Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, 22 August. The Mass was to mark the 75th anniversary of the executions of six members of the White Rose, a group of German citizens who stood in opposition to the Nazi regime and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Following the Mass, our students participated in a Human Rights Forum with peers from schools throughout Victoria. Participants reflected on current Human Rights issues and explored the courage involved in standing up and speaking out. Students discussed the many and varied ways it was possible to make a difference in our contemporary world.

Overwhelmingly, our students walked away feeling both challenged and empowered to consider how they could work individually, and collectively, to stand up for human rights, for freedom and for justice.

A friendly reminder to all that the Parent Teacher Interviews are taking place...

Parent Teacher Interviews

A friendly reminder to all that Parent Teacher Interviews are taking place on Wednesday, 12 September from 4.00pm to 7.30pm and also on Thursday, 20 September from 4.00pm to 7.30pm in the College gymnasium. Bookings for all year levels are now open on Siena Central and will close at 4.00pm on the day preceding the interviews. We look forward to seeing you there.

Interim Reports

The 2018 Semester 2 Interim Reports are now available on Siena Central and you are welcome to bring them with you to your Parent Teacher Interview for discussion.

Key Dates

Additional Key Dates for the Term can be found on the College website under News and Events.

This year’s Annual Music Concert, Sisterhood showcased our young women coming together to share their music...

Annual Music Concert

This year’s Annual Music Concert, Sisterhood, showcased our young women coming together to share their music with the school community. It was the first year where the concert was held at Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre, Xavier College. The music ensembles performed works that celebrate the work of female composers and performers who have lead the way for up and coming female musicians, as well as works inspired by the lives and stories of young women. The concert featured Junior Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Orchestra, Groove Train, Planet Groove, Sisters of Swing, Stage Band, Senior Strings, Junior Strings, Folkus, Guitar Ensemble, Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Canti Dolce and Year 12 Band. I would like to congratulate all students and staff in the Music department for a wonderful concert.

Victorian Schools Music Festival

Throughout the month of August, Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Groove Train participated in the Victorian Schools Music Festival. The three ensembles represented the school very well and were all awarded Silver Shields for their performances. I would like to congratulate all students and their directors for working hard and performing so well.

The Boy from Oz

The Year 9 Music Performance class have been learning about musicals and performance skills. On the Wednesday, 22 August, the class went to see The Boy from Oz at the State Theatre in the city. For many of them, this was the first time they have attended a musical at the State Theatre. It was a fantastic experience for the students to learn about Peter Allen, an Australian iconic performer and the elements of a musical.

Siena College has been performing extremely well this term in Soccer, with the Junior and Intermediate teams both close to securing finals. The Junior team has the only perfect record across all teams in each zone (all wins), which is a fantastic effort. There are a number of Volleyball teams doing very well, with all of the Junior 1 (A, B and C) teams likely to be in the finals. Siena’s Badminton players have also represented Siena College well across all levels. This week was the last week of ordinary GSV Term 3 competition, with finals next week. Siena College is poised to do very well across many levels and sports and we wish all the best to our participants!

Our Aerobics team continues to develop and represent Siena College very well. Recently they had a competition meet at Melbourne Girls’ College, with a number of Siena teams and participants gaining first, second and other high results. The group is now focusing on the major tournament, the National Aeroschools Competition on the Gold Coast, with nineteen Siena students poised to represent the College. Good luck, girls!

While the Athletics season is almost over, it has been amazing period. We have participated in a number of GSV events, as well as the Siena College Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, 21 August . The team has been working hard over the past term, with weekly training sessions and GSV preliminary meets culminating in the GSV Athletics Division 3 Championships on Wednesday, 29 August. With a strong representative team, Siena College finished third overall. Our Juniors placed first, Intermediates fifth and our Seniors placed second. A fantastic effort! After this strong performance, we have a number of students who will represent Siena at the GSV Finals Evening on Tuesday, 11 September at Lakeside Stadium.

Siena College also recently participated in the 2018 Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships at Mount Buller. Our students had a wonderful time competing in near perfect conditions.

On an individual note, Jordyn Kourmadias was a part of the 2017 Australian National Under 14s team, representing Asia Pacific in the Junior NBA World Championships in Orlando, Florida. Jordyn helped her team reach the grand final of the International Division, finishing runners up. A huge congratulations goes out to Jordyn on this amazing effort.

Term 4 is coming up soon, with Siena College entering a number of Basketball, Cricket and Junior Water Polo teams. We look forward to another exciting GSV season.

On Wednesday, 5 September, Siena again staged our annual competition for public speaking.

On Wednesday, 5 September, Siena again staged our annual competition for public speaking. The event is named in honour of a Dominican friar, Antonio de Montesinos, who lived five centuries ago. Appalled at the cruel enslavement of indigenous people in the place we now know as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Antonio delivered a famous sermon in which he sharply criticised Spanish colonists and slave traders. Eventually, he managed to persuade King Ferdinand of Spain that slavery is wrong and consequently, the first ever documents designed to protect indigenous people came into being. Antonio de Montesinos changed the course of history by bravely speaking his truth.

This year, four students also showed bravery by participating in this challenging competition. They were Ella Frausing (Year 12), Jade Devlin (Year 11), Amanda Marasco (Year 9) and Micayla Victor (Year 7). The girls spoke with conviction on their selected topics, which were required to show a connection to our College theme for 2018: 'One Body, Many Parts'. The students were also required to make an impromptu speech on a topic given to them just five minutes beforehand.

At the conclusion of the competition, audience members commented very positively on the impressively high standard set by the speakers and the way in which each student approached their speeches. Certainly, the adjudicators had difficulty in reaching their decisions regarding to whom presentation of the trophy and encouragement award medal would be made. At the final tally, only a handful of points separated the four girls.

After very careful deliberation by the adjudicators, Jade Devlin was announced as the winner of the 2018 Antonio de Montesinos Award. Amanda Marasco received the Encouragement Award.

Jade will recite her winning speech at the next school assembly. It will also be reproduced in the 2018 Siena College Yearbook.

On Tuesday, 28 August, Kingswood College hosted a Northern Star Chess Tournament for primary and secondary schools. Siena College attended the event with ten participants: Nicole Ahn, Renata Fanthome, Mia Fenton, Estelle Jones, Siena Justus, Zoe Kelly, Emily Ovens, Angelina Rodos, Jasmine Skutela and Micayla Victor. The girls were selected to attend based on their commitment to Siena’s own Chess Club, which meets every Wednesday at lunchtime in the Albertus Magnus Library.

For five of the students, it was their very first Chess Tournament so they were very excited, if not a bit nervous, especially when a Year 7 student competed with a Year 12 student in the first round.

There were over one hundred students competing from a number of schools around Melbourne. Each student played seven games of fifteen minutes against students from the other competing schools in a round robin tournament. The games all began with a friendly handshake and a cheery 'good luck!', but after that it was down to the serious business of attempting to trounce your opponent on the chessboard!

Congratulations to Zoe Kelly, Angelina Rodos and Jasmine Skutela who qualified for the Victorian State Secondary Girls final which will be held at St Catherine’s College, Toorak on the Tuesday, 16 October.

The next tournament will be on the Tuesday, 18 September in Castlemaine.

Siena College hosted students from Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools

On Thursday, 9 August, Siena College hosted students from Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools, keen to engage in interfaith dialogue, promoting mutual understanding, respect and ethical behaviour across religious diversities to encourage the development of competent global leaders of the 21st century. Our Year 10 Building Bridges students presented this program with confidence and pride in their Dominican and faith traditions, showcasing the College and our Catholic identity.

If the visiting schools arrived early enough, we treated them to a tour of the College ahead of the main program of the night. Engaged and animated chatter filled the air as questions and answers brimming with pride reflected respectful yet probing dialogue.

The first session began in our beautiful Convent courtyard with a warm welcome and explanation as to the purpose of, and history behind, our Tuscan styled cloisters. We visited the Prioress' cell and the Archives room before all eighty of us squeezed in to our stunning but tiny chapel. Again, our Year 10 students spoke with confidence about the significance of the altar, the Tabernacle and the Stations of the Cross. St Catherine’s relic featured which created a range of interested responses from those from other traditions.

Once settled in the Hall, our Year 10 students spoke with conviction to the Building Bridges cohort about that which is unique to Catholicism, our understanding of the Sacraments as key highlights/markers of our faith journey, the significance of Catholic Social Teaching and the beauty of the Dominican charism. We shared photos, and artefacts by way of the Baptismal candle, Christening robe, rosary beads and our new Catholic Social Teaching poster.

Our delicious halal/kosher dinner was enjoyed by all. Encounter and dialogue featured as we celebrated the company of our guests with this shared quintessential human experience. The evening concluded in small group discussions of mixed genders. This last session was pronounced, ‘way too short’ and ‘hugely successful’ by all participating. Our final Building Bridges evening will be held at Bialik College in a couple of weeks to which we look forward with great anticipation.

‘I enjoyed hosting the Building Bridges night as it was fascinating to hear about the similarities and differences between schools from different beliefs and faith traditions. It’s interesting to ask people questions about their religions as this isn’t something that you often discuss. We have all met so many lovely people and it was nice to show them what our school is like and to talk to them about both religious and everyday things.’ Hannah Hine, Year 10

On Thursday, 16 August, Siena hosted Julie Arliss, who presented to our Year 10 and 11 students

On Thursday, 16 August, Siena hosted Julie Arliss, an international presenter from the UK, Director and Founder of Academy Conferences, a former Cambridge CIE examiner, and a Fellow at Harris Manchester Oxford University, 2018. She presented to our Year 11 students for their third Eckhart seminar and challenged them to consider ‘The Philosophy of Sex’.

Julie deconstructed modern attitudes to women as portrayed through the media and movies which can continue to uphold and reinforce values of gender inequality. Our students came to realise that many had accepted these ideas unquestioningly in film and text. Julie differentiated between ways of interpreting love as well as intimacy. She also explored the ideas of famous philosophers; Plato’s view of spiritual love, free of lust, with a focus on the adoration for one’s soul, rather than the physical self; as well as the beliefs of Aristotle, that all things, including relationships, can enable the potential in each partner through shared virtue. This love reflects our pursuit of happiness. Julie ultimately linked this with Christian love, emphasising that all love is formed in the image of God, and that, as his followers, we are called to love and cherish all of his divine creations.

Our key learning in Year 10 Religion and Society Unit 2 is centred on Ethics. We were privileged to secure Julie to present a Masterclass to our Year 10 cohort on Relativism. She approached this learning from two perspectives: Cognitive Relativism, which is subjective, and Cultural Relativism, which is social. Julie argued that with Relativism, there is no single moral standard that applies to all people and all places. She drew on art (Caravaggio’s painting, The Sacrifice of Isaac), and famous philosophers, from Nietzsche to Immanuel Kant, to highlight that, if morality is culturally defined, only those who are part of the culture can be part of the conversation. Julie was able to reinforce the way this attitude, in turn, has massive Justice implications if we are working to overcome slavery, prejudice and human rights issues across the world.

Such enrichment in the learning of Religion and Society at Year 10 and 11 should develop critical thinking, engagement with the big, existential questions of life and recognition of the importance of the inquiry process. Julie’s passion for a structured philosophical and ethical approach to learning and as a way to access deeper thinking is contagious and inspired so many of our students to want to explore Philosophy and Ethics further.

This week’s Siena Career News features information on a webinar for Year 12s

This week’s Siena Career News features information on a webinar for Year 12s about to sit the CASPer Test. The CASPer test is a compulsory requirement for entry into Education/Teaching at Tertiary Institutions nationally and students in Year 12 should have registered to sit the test in the next school holidays. The webinar will talk students through what the test looks like (webcam is required) and what the possible questions will be like.

There is also an Extension Studies Evening at Monash University. Extension Studies, also known as VCE Extension, are University level subject/units that a Year 12 student can pick up as part of their VCE program (usually available if they have completed a Unit 3 and 4 sequence in a similar subject area in Year 11).

Medicine is always a popular career choice and Bond University’s medical degree offers the shortest pathway to becoming a doctor: Four years and eight months. See the latest Siena Career News for more details. You will also find information on a new 'Pre-Medicine' university degree at the University of Woolongong.

Many Fine Arts and Design courses at Tertiary Institutions require a folio for entry. Deakin University is holding a Portfolio Information Evening for students applying for these courses and further details can be found in the Siena Career News.

Siena Career News

Father's Day Breakfast

The Siena Parents' Association (SPA) hosted the annual Father's Day Breakfast on Friday, 31 August. The event was, yet again, a fantastic success with a full house of Siena students and their dads gathering in the College gym for a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, muffins, fruit and yoghurt. Our guest speaker for the morning was Siena staff member, Martin Gibbs who reflected on his own experiences as a dad. Thank you to Martin and all of our SPA volunteers for your help hosting this wonderful event.

If you would like to view and/or purchase any of the professional photographs taken on the morning, visit www.makphotos.com.au, click 'View Your Photos' and enter password: scfd310818.

We are always in need of help at the Uniform Shop! If you would like to volunteer your time, please call us on (03) 9835 0267 or email uniforms@siena.vic.edu.au

Siena Central Updates for Parents Coming Soon

As part of Siena College's ongoing website development, the homepage has recently been upgraded with a user friendly ‘Siena Central’ button, to allow you easy access to the College’s portal. Click on the image below to access the College website.

Additional Siena Central tiles are also being developed for parents: ‘Finance’ and ‘Update Your Details’. These tiles will allow parents to view fee statements, make online payments and update contact details, all within Siena Central. Parents will be advised in the upcoming weeks when these functions are live and ready to use.

The Class of 1978 and Class of 1988 were welcomed back to Siena College last Saturday

The Class of 1978 and Class of 1988 were welcomed back to Siena College last Saturday, 1 September for their Decade Reunions. We had over seventy alumnae return to the College and it was hard to imagine it had been thirty to forty years since these ladies had left! There was much chatter and laughter as we celebrated the Siena sisterhood, with drinks and canapes at the College followed by dinner at Hellenic Republic in Kew.

Class of 1978 Forty Year Reunion

Class of 1988 Thirty Year Reunion

The Decade Reunions for the Class of 1998 and Class of 2008 will be held on Saturday, 15 September and the annual 1940s, 1950s and 1960s Reunion Brunch will be on Saturday, 20 October. Alumnae can book for their reunion at www.sienaconnect.com.au/reunions

We also encourage alumnae to join our new onine networking platform, Siena Global Connect to stay connected (or reconnect) with your classmates and other Siena alumnae.

We congratulate Cathy Carr on her appointment to the position of Executive Assistant to Principal, Gaynor Robson-Garth. Cathy brings a wealth of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to the role and we wish her well.

We are pleased to welcome Casey Stone to the Mathematics department, Mark Baldasso to the role of Assistant Business Manager and Zhoutian Lin as our new Chinese Language assistant.

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment forms and Prospectus packs are available from Reception or on the College website

In partnership with The Ark Clothing Co., we would like to extend an invitation

In partnership with The Ark Clothing Co., we would like to extend an invitation to our community to attend our Fashion Show on Friday, 26 October at 7.00pm in the Susan Alberti Auditorium.

Siena alumna, Megan Sloley (Class of 1983) has joined The Ark Clothing Co. and her team have put together a Fashion Show that provides our guests with an opportunity to view The Ark’s new summer collection. The clothing will be modelled by The Ark employees and the styles cater for all ages and body shapes. Ticket price also includes canapés, drinks and a Personal Styling voucher valued at $25.

We are very fortunate to have alumnae donate photos, uniforms and memorabilia

We are very fortunate to have alumnae who not only donate photos, uniforms and memorabilia to our archives, but also recollections of their time at Siena. They bring depth and life to our official records.

Recently, Barbara Dowling, née Robertson (Class of 1962) described her time at Siena College. We were very excited to receive her reminiscences, especially the paragraph below which describes the sports uniform of her era. We would love to have this uniform, or even a colour photo of it, in our collection.

'Our sports tunics were made of butter yellow Cesarine, the same material as the pinafores and therefore almost indestructible. They were of the same design as the winter tunics with three box pleats fore and aft. We had to kneel down and the hem had to touch the ground. Travelling to school on tram or train they crushed badly unless you could arrange the pleats oh so carefully before sitting down otherwise they ballooned out at the back and looked terrible - so the best plan was to stand up all the way!'

St Cecilia’s Parish Reunion

All are welcome to attend the St Cecilia's Parish Reunion in South Camberwell on Sunday, 14 October 2018. Mass will commence at 10.00am, followed by a gathering of friends in the Church Hall at 11.00am. This will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends from the past. RSVP at https://trybooking.com/XXWO

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself...

'You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God' Leviticus 19:34.

This week the Church celebrates Migrant and Refugee Week and we are all invited by the message to consider how we can welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees with open hearts and minds. Understanding, tolerance and empathy provide strong foundations for social cohesion in our community.

Students in Year 10 and Year 11 have been invited to attend the Pillars Leadership Course next week, facilitated by Jennifer Levett, Deputy Principal Mission and Identity and Bronwyn Illot, Head of Student Formation and Justice Education . The two sessions will explore many facets of leadership, with a specific focus on leading within a Dominican context. The 2018 College Captains and other members of the student representative council (SRC) will share their experiences of leadership with their peers, including the highlights and challenges they have faced and the discoveries they have made about themselves along the way.

Our congratulations to Mia Kelly, Jessica Higgins and Lauren Edwards who were awarded invitations to the third global round of the prestigious World Scholars Cup. The goal of this competition is to inspire in young people a love of learning, confidence in new skills and a sense of global citizenship. Over 1600 competitors from 27 countries participated in Round 2, held at the Melbourne Convention Centre, 16 - 21 August and we congratulate all of our students who have participated and represented our College with such distinction.

My thanks to James Houghton for his organisation of this year's Athletics Carnival and to all staff who so willingly assisted to ensure the day's schedule proceeded so smoothly. Despite the ever present threat of rain, the energy and enthusiasm of the girls never wavered and Dianella were the overall winners with Waratah taking the honours in the Spirit Award.

We have over seventy guests registered for the Class of 1978 and 1988 reunion on Saturday, 1 September. I am looking forward to meeting with this group of alumnae and sharing their memories of their days at Siena. Past students of the College are so important to our community and we encourage all alumnae to keep in touch via the Alumnae Coordinator, Liz Merrett.

Finally our congratulations and best wishes to Natalie Tricarico (Class of 1994) on her upcoming wedding to George Calombaris.

From 21 to 27 August the Catholic Church celebrates Migrant and Refugee Week with a particular focus on Welcoming, Protecting, Promoting and Integrating Migrants a...

Migrant and Refugee Week

From Tuesday, 21 to Monday, 27 August the Catholic Church celebrates Migrant and Refugee Week with a particular focus on welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.

Often the stranger turns up unexpectedly: it’s normal on these occasions that we may feel anxious, mistrusting or fearful. It’s important that we daily invite God to be part of our encounter with the stranger and to pray that our community can overcome fear and suspicion towards asylum seekers. Whenever fear is present, it simultaneously provides an opportunity to be a powerful witness to our faith. People will know that we are followers of Jesus when we place the dignity of people seeking asylum before our own needs and fears.

Researchers from Monash University have found that successful refugee students find a way to use their experiences to help them learn, adapt and thrive in a new country. They worked with a group of primary school children to make this short film Ali and the Long Journey to Australia.

Year 12

It’s hard to believe that we have commenced planning for the 2018 Graduation Eucharist. Parents will receive formal invitations to all final proceedings. Please note that this Eucharist will be held at St Dominic’s Church on Tuesday, 23 October, commencing at 7.30pm. With September and the end of term on the horizon I also encourage Year 12 students to start contemplating all that they are grateful for as they conclude their Siena experience. They will participate in a special Final Liturgy on Thursday, 20 September in their Religious Education class across Periods 3 and 4. This will focus both on gratitude and the 2018 College theme, 'One Body, Many Parts'.

Pope Francis in the News

This week in an impassioned letter addressed to ‘The People of God’, Pope Francis urges us all to stand in solidarity with victims of abuse. He says:'With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives.' Read the rest of his letter here.

Newly installed Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli has responded with his own letter to the Faithful, saying:'It falls to me, as your Archbishop, to ensure that our local Church in Melbourne is unequivocally committed to attending to the harm done, prioritising the dignity and care of all who are young and vulnerable, rebuilding trust among our people, and creating safe environments in our communities, agencies and organisations. This is the way of Jesus Christ. It must be my way. And I invite you to join with me in making it our common Gospel way.' Read the full text here.

For a number of years now, Siena College has held the annual Antonio de Montesinos Public Speaking Award competition, which is open to all students to enter.

For a number of years now, Siena College has held the annual Antonio de Montesinos Public Speaking Award competition, which is open to all students to enter. This an event that encourages girls to prepare and deliver a speech on a topic that they feel is important. Each year, the speech topics are linked to the College theme, which in 2018 is 'One Body, Many Parts'.

Born in the fifteenth century, Antonio de Montesinos was a Dominican friar who famously and bravely delivered a speech in December of 1511, decrying the exploitation by Spanish colonists of indigenous people in the well-established slave trade of the time. His speech eventually changed the course of history.

Siena College pays tribute to Montesinos’ bravery in speaking the Truth by naming this public speaking award after him.

This year, the Antonio de Montesinos Award will be held in the Susan Alberti Auditorium on Wednesday, 5 September at 7.00pm. The students who participate will speak to the audience on their chosen topic for a timed period of four to five minutes. After interval, they will also present an impromptu speech on a topic which will be presented to the participants on the evening. They will have a short time to prepare.

An engraved trophy will be awarded for the best speech on the evening, as decided by our adjudicators. The runner up will receive an engraved, boxed medal.

If you would like to attend the Antonio de Montesinos Award, please click here to reserve the number or places you require. Entry is free. A light supper will be served during the interval. Everyone is welcome!

The Albertus Magnus Library was abuzz this week with a celebration of Australian books, authors and illustrators.

Internationally renowned performance poet Joel McKerrow was a special guest in the library on Wednesday, 22 August entertaining a lunch time audience of students and staff with a performance of his self penned poetry. In addition, two small groups of Year 7 students were treated to a performance poetry and writing workshop.

Young adult author, Simmone Howell, who is this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year winner for Take Three Girls spoke about her writing experiences with Year 7 to 12 students on Thursday, 23 August and select VCE English students were invited to part in a writing workshop with this award winning author.

House spirit was alive and well at the annual House Book Week Library Trivia Challenge. Each House battled it out to answer twenty book related questions. The winning house was awarded the inaugural perpetual shield. Congratulations to all students and the daily winners of the Book Week Trivia question on Siena Central who each received a $30 Readings Gift Voucher.

The Albertus Magnus Library was abuzz this week with a celebration of Australian books, authors and illustrators.

Internationally renowned performance poet Joel McKerrow was a special guest in the library on Wednesday, 22 August entertaining a lunch time audience of students and staff with a performance of his self penned poetry. In addition, two small groups of Year 7 students were treated to a performance poetry and writing workshop.

Young adult author, Simmone Howell, who is this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year winner for Take Three Girls spoke about her writing experiences with Year 7 to 12 students on Thursday, 23 August and select VCE English students were invited to part in a writing workshop with this award winning author.

House spirit was alive and well at the annual House Book Week Library Trivia Challenge. Each House battled it out to answer twenty book related questions. The winning house was awarded the inaugural perpetual shield. Congratulations to all students and the daily winners of the Book Week Trivia question on Siena Central who each received a $30 Readings Gift Voucher.

The 2018 theme for National Science Week was ‘Game Changers, Change Makers’...

The 2018 theme for National Science Week was ‘Game Changers, Change Makers’ and to celebrate, the Science Department scheduled a number of engaging lunchtime and class activities. We started the celebrations with the lunchtime screening of ‘Hidden Figures’ in the Hall. Students crunched on tasty popcorn while watching this film based on the true story of the women who worked at NASA during the Space Race in the 1960s.

Students who entered the ‘Who Am I’ competition and were able to successfully name the four Australian Scientists (Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, Sir Howard Walter Florey, Professor Michelle Simmons and Professor Fiona Wood) and explain why they were each considered a ‘Game Changer’ were awarded an ice cream ticket. With these tickets, students were invited to sample the delicious ice cream made on the spot using liquid nitrogen.

On Wednesday, 15 August, nine of our Year 10 students (Julia Cabai, Anna Litchen, Lucia Litchen, Teagan Matthews, Serena Potter, Olivia Redford, Emilia Sutherland, Zara Turner amd Bailey Webb) represented our college at the ‘Science Week at the Cathedral’ forum. Guest speakers included Felicity Furey, the new Engineer in Residence at the STEM Practice Academy at Swinburne University of Technology. Felicity is a consulting engineer and entrepreneur, and was recognised as one of the 100 most innovative engineers this year by Engineers Australia. She also cofounded the Power of Engineering, a social enterprise to engage students across the country to encourage them into STEM careers. Please see Anna and Lucia Litchen’s reflections below.

Just as Australia has a chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, Siena has our own STEM scientist, Madeleine Burchill. Madeleine Burchill is an engineer who works in the Aerospace Division – DSTO Australian Government Department of Defence Science and Technology. Ms Burchill conducted workshops with our Year 9 and Senior students to help them learn more about STEM careers and the value of continuing with their Science and Mathematics studies. Ms Burchill discussed her learning journey and how it led to a STEM career as an Aerospace Engineer. Students also worked in teams and built Spaghetti Towers under a time limit.

During Thursday lunchtime, the nail biting Science Kahoot competition took place in the Susan Alberti Auditorium. Siena College’s very own Jade Devlin entertained the audience with her scientific banter while executing her Masters of Ceremony role. The week finished with great excitement as students entered the world of Virtual Reality and tried their skill at ‘Beat Saber’.

I would like to thank Fay Mak, Theresa Azar, Sam Redman, Anthony George, Jennifer Levett and Dr Anthony Vadala, as well as all the Science Department for all their assistance and work behind the scenes in making all these events happen.

Assimina SemertjisHead of Science

Student Reflections

'As part of National Science Week, a handful of Year 10 students were given the opportunity to listen to the experiences of the guest speakers involved in a range of scientific fields and ask questions concerning what new technologies and people influenced them. It was fascinating to learn from them and their discussion of the relationship between science and the society in creating game changing discoveries. Through my participation I was provided a greater insight to some of the many fields within science including biomedical engineering and cell research. I learnt how these areas of study can and have been applied to the modern world in order to benefit society. This day was enriched by the knowledge of these panelists and allowed me to develop a better understanding of the world of science and major breakthroughs within the field.' Anna Litchen

'On 15 August, myself and a small group of Year 10s were given the exciting opportunity to attend Paul’s Cathedral in the city and listen to a panel of scientist who discussed the theme 'What is a Game Changer?' There was a diverse panel from biomedical engineers to philosophers, all of which who had contributed immensely to their field and creating these ‘game changers.’ We were able to interact with the panel by directly them asking questions about ethics in science, and it was enjoyable to hear how their experiences in science made their opinions differ. It was also interesting to learn how everything from government authority to religion can impact scientific developments.' Lucia Litchen

Students at Siena have the opportunity to study Chinese, French and Italian

Year 7 Language Study

Students at Siena College have the opportunity to study Chinese, French and Italian. Before starting at Siena, students choose two languages to trial in Year 7, one in each semester. At the end of the year, students decide which of the two languages they would like to continue studying in Years 8 and 9. The current Year 7 students are in the process of making this decision. Below is a little of their experience of language study this year.

'When I first began learning my first language, I was very excited, as I had done very little language study at my primary school so I was very excited for the opportunity to be able to speak two languages: French and Italian. It was not just the fact that I would be able to speak the language it was that I could communicate to others who spoke that language when I would go and visit their country or go to a restaurant where they spoke the language. None of my family speaks anything except English so this was a very new experience that I was ready for. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning two languages and have learnt so much, from learning how to count to having a full conversation in French and Italian.' Evie Goodale

'During my first year at Siena College, I have enjoyed learning French and Chinese. I have learnt many different ways of saying hello, goodbye and thank you. During Semester 1, I learnt French. I not only learnt how to speak the basics of the language but we also got the opportunity to learn about the culture and how French children learn at school. We had a few French exchange students come in and spoke to us about their life over in France and the explain differences between Australia and France. This semester, I am studying Chinese, which has been extremely fun. We have learnt about the Chinese dragon and how to move the puppet around to create the dragon dance. We also had a special guest, Dr Wang Zhengting from the University of Melbourne who came in and showed us all the different Chinese instruments and played different tunes on each of them. We had a special performance where we heard a famous Chinese tune. I have really enjoyed learning these two languages.' Abbie Sullivan

'Learning a language at secondary school is enjoyable. I have learned Chinese and Italian. In Chinese I learned how to greet people, how to order food and I learned the names of different countries. We did many fun tasks and were able to hold the Chinese dragon. I am now learning Italian. So far, we have learned the alphabet, how to greet people, how to say our address and how to give and follow classroom instructions. It has been a really enjoyable and great experience.' Leah Backlien

A huge congratulations to the girls representing Siena College in Term 3, who are getting some fantastic results while showing fair play and sportsmanship.

A huge congratulations to the girls representing Siena College in Term 3, who are getting some fantastic results while showing fair play and sportsmanship. Our Soccer teams are dominating their divisions: the Intermediate team sits second and the Juniors are ranked first. The Volleyball teams are also having strong results with the Intermediate Siena College Firsts team and Junior Firsts sitting second and first respectively.

The next few weeks also sees the last few rounds of GSV Volleyball, Soccer and Badminton, with Siena College well placed to compete in multiple finals, as highlighted in the previous section. We wish the participants all the best!

Over the past few weeks, Siena College’s Aerobics team has been training hard in preparation for the September Australian Aeroschools Competition on the Gold Coast, with another competition on Friday, 24 August at Melbourne Girls’ College. We wish the girls the best of luck as they prepare for these events. The Siena College Athletics team has also been busy, training twice a week in preparation for the GSV Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, 29 August.

The Siena College Athletics Carnival was held earlier this week at Tom Kelly Athletics Track. Despite the threat of rain, the weather held out and House spirit was in full force. There were a number of standout individual perfomances, including Holly Nieuwenhuizen's (Year 8) win in the Michele Timms 100m race, with the eight fastest sprinters over the day battling it out. Dianella was the overall winner of the day and Waratah received the House Spirit Award.

A huge congratulations to Jaimie Guan, who placed fourth in the 2018 Australian Karate Federation Nationals Competition in Caloundra, Queensland, competing in four rounds of the competition. Well done, Jaimie on this outstanding result!

This week’s Siena Career News is packed full of information that will assist students make some of those important decisions about subjects and tertiary courses to pursue.

This week’s Siena Career News is packed full of information that will assist students make some of those important decisions about subjects and tertiary courses to pursue. There is information on Fine Arts and Music courses, an Information evening for any Year 11 considering a university study as part of their VCE, Teaching Course Information sessions at Deakin University, a folio Information session for students applying for courses that use this as a key requirement for entry and news regarding a special Student Experience Day at the Monash Art, Design and Architecture Faculty.

On 15 August, Siena College hosted the second Junior Gifted and Talented Day for 2018.

On 15 August, Siena College hosted the second Junior Gifted and Talented Day for 2018. Over 70 students from Avila, PLC and Scotch College joined an enthusiastic group of Siena girls to participate in the Junior Stretch and Challenge Day. The conference was an intensive one day program of short lectures for Year 8 and 9 students, presented by Julie Arliss, Farmington Fellow at Oxford University and founder of Academy Conferences. The program seeks to identify and challenge the students' preconceived ideas and encourage them to think creatively about their world. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to interact with other like minded students as they explore a range of interesting and thought provoking ideas about relevant modern day issues.

In the first session of the day, Julie presented a lecture entitled 'Justice, Truth, Beauty and Mathematics'. The session explored the difficulty of achieving agreement about 'what is justice?' and 'what is the point of punishment?' She used contemporary examples to demonstrate the complexity of the related philosophical issues and the impact on other areas of human knowledge, such as beauty, mathematics and art.

The second session was an interactive discussion based on a community of enquiry approach. The students formed small, mixed groups and were given a set of tasks designed to stimulate discussion based on the question, 'Do animals feel pain and is it OK to kill them?' Each team worked to reach consensus on a set of ideas, then elected a spokesperson to present their ideas at the end of the session.

After lunch, Julie presented a lecture entitled 'Science: What comes First, Observation or Inspiration?' which examined the underlying ideas that frame science. The students were inspired to think how they, as the next generation of inventors, will use science to solve current and future challenges.

he final session was a debate based on the contention “That it is never right to kill a person”. The debate gave students an awareness of the inconsistencies of our laws, which prohibit killing, yet condone killing in war. The debate also addressed the many issues surrounding capital punishment. This session gave the students an opportunity to apply quite a different set of analytical and evaluative skills, as they debated the topic. The session concluded with an invitation for students to contribute their opinions on the topic and ended with a vote on the issue.

Student Reflections

“The day was exciting and rife with new information. We learnt and considered a broad range of topics outside the spectrum of our everyday life and asked some big questions that will keep me thinking long after the day is over.”Juliet Guthrie

“Today’s presentation inspired me to think deeply into topics about morals, ethics, and truth and consider all perspectives of a topic. This way of thinking is a new technique I could apply to all subjects in school, not only science and religion.”Claudia Wilhelm

“I learnt about the criminal justice system and how scientists came up with the Big Bang Theory.”Georgia Wells

“The discussions helped me to think wider than just what we learn at school and taught me a lot about working with new people and talking about topics that don’t have an expected or certain answer.”Aisha Bowker

“I liked the guest speaker as she orchestrated her information down to our level of understanding.”Charlotte Rieniets

On Wednesday 26 July, Siena College hosted an Enrichment day for Year 9 students from the Boroondara Cluster.

On Wednesday 26 July, Siena College hosted an Enrichment day for Year 9 students from the Boroondara Cluster. Students from Scotch College, Genazzano, Strathcona, and Camberwell Girls Grammar joined five Year 9 students from Siena to participate in the following areas: Philosophy, Psychology and Debating.

The first session was facilitated by Mrs Bronwyn Ilott, exploring questions such as 'What is the difference between right and wrong?', 'How do I know what I believe is true?', and 'What makes us valuable?' These questions were examined through philosophical discussion and focus activities. Through individual thinking and group activities, students explored the difference between assumptions and inferences, establishing the importance of individuals having their own set of values and attitudes. Students were given stimulus material on a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel, who gave an impassioned speech about the perils of indifference which reflects Desmond Tutu’s words, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”.

The second session, led by Mrs Libby Moore, explored psychology and the concepts of conformity and individuality. Using The Asch Experiment and the Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment as Case Studies, Mrs Moore explored the idea of conformity and examined the impact that social forces may have on the behaviour of individuals. Students were challenged to consider the relevance of these studies to not only their behaviour as individuals, but also to our contemporary society. The human need for connections through many social groups over a lifespan, was also discussed.

Ms Becky Scott facilitated the debating session, discussing the statement that individuals can have a larger impact than groups of people. Students unpacked the three elements of a debate: matter, method and manner before forming an affirmative and negative side to tackle this contention.

Students’ reflection:

Although we were all nervous about beginning the Enrichment Day, we all found it a great opportunity to work collaboratively in higher order intellectual thinking in regards to what it means to be an individual. We thoroughly enjoyed the sessions that were run during the day.Andrea Paramboukis, Maddie Mitra, Lauren Lane, Fiona Rassias, and Sophie Gurney.

*Please note current Year 12 students require their School Uniform and blazer for the academic awards on Tuesday, 11 December. After the Academic Awards parents/students can drop their uniforms (dry cleaned) with the relevant paper work to the uniform shop.For enquiries please contact the Uniform Shop on uniforms@siena.vic.edu.au or 03 9835 0267

Snow in Camberwell! Who would believe that?We have proof in a photo taken of Siena in 1951.

Snow in Camberwell! Who would believe that?

We have proof in a photo taken of Siena in 1951. It is an iconic image for us. The dictionary definition of iconic is 'an image that brings to mind an event or location, often with emotional impact, for people in a given time, place or culture.'

Many of our iconic images are, of course, of our students and they are especially dear to us. There are also photos of buildings that we recognise as significant in our history and which, for the students and staff of that era, and for us now, have a strong emotional impact.

The 1958 photo is particularly special. Siena is nestled within, and seemingly protected from the outside world by pine trees. Two girls are playing tennis and other students and staff are relaxing in the background. Why is the red van at the entrance to the school? Perhaps it is delivering furniture or groceries. Whatever the case, it helps illustrate that Siena was and is, not only a physical landmark but also relevant to and wholly engaged in our in Camberwell community.

In the years to come, what will future generations of our Siena community consider to be their iconic images?

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020...

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment Forms and Prospectus packs are available from Reception or via our website.

St Cecilia’s Parish Reunion

All are welcome to attend the St Cecilia's Parish Reunion in South Camberwell on Sunday, 14 October 2018. Mass will commence at 10.00am, followed by a gathering of friends in the Church Hall at 11.00am. This will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends from the past.

Canterbury Girls' Cricket

We celebrated the feast of St Dominic on Tuesday, August 7 and gave thanks for Dominican preaching over more than eight hundred years. St. Dominic was a priest who lived in the thirteenth century in Europe. He studied hard and was a man of constant prayer. He was said to be a deeply caring person who gave a lot of thought to the needs and concerns of others. As we celebrated St Dominic’s Day, we reflected on the part each of us plays at Siena College and in our global family. We are all called to be parts of one body in Christ, people who dream of a better world and share God’s love for all people. That requires honesty and self reflection about how we treat others, and how we are called to live a truly human life as Jesus showed us.

Our College Chaplain, Father Kevin Toomey presided at our St Dominic’s Day Mass, reminding us all to be inspired by St Dominic's life and guiding principles:

‘(Dominic) was salt to the earth and a light to the world during his short but eventful life. I hope today that you will take some time to think, “What is it that I am learning at Siena that I will take forward into my future life: is it the beauty of Jesus, or the goodness of each human being and their dignity; or how to reach out to the poor? or some other value that you cherish? Whatever it is, may each one of you think of yourselves as salt and light to our needy world. I know in God’s great love for you God will delight to see you as stars, the bearers of God’s light. As you do this, you will be living out your school motto, VERITAS - truth.’

We continue to pray for each other, for our Dominican family in Camberwell, the Sisters, the Friars, the parishioners of St Dominic’s, our Siena community, and for Dominicans round the world, particularly those in places like Iraq, Israel and Palestine and for all who are confronted by war and violence at this time.

This week, we launched our #sienaspirit campaign, with our school leaders joining me in signing their names to a banner which will eventually hold all of the signatures of our 2018 cohort. Additionally, our development and marketing team have been hard at work promoting our College with an exciting new outdoor campaign. Billboards will appear over the coming months in our local community, Chadstone Shopping Centre and of course, here at the College and on our social media platforms. I hope you enjoy these new images and our thanks go to the students who gave their time to participate in the photographic shoot.

After five sold-out shows of 'A Chorus Line' our cast and crew are enjoying a well earned break and my appreciation is extended to the many staff who assisted out of hours to ensure the production was such a great success. It was a wonderful example of our 2018 College theme, ‘One Body, Many Parts’, with so many students and staff contributing to backstage support, lighting, the orchestra or the singers and dancers. Their commitment to many hours of rehearsals culminated in a wonderful production. I'm sure that all who enjoyed the show would agree with me that the talent on display was truly extraordinary.

This week we celebrated the Feast of St Dominic with a whole school eucharist

Feast of St Dominic

This week we celebrated the Feast of St Dominic with a whole school eucharist at St Dominic’s church. In his homily, our College Chaplain Fr Kevin Toomey OP reminded us that:

“Dominic and his friars went back to study and loved the word of God in the scriptures; from there they were able to present a renewed idea of what Jesus and Christianity were really all about. Dominic took all the Gospel to heart, but especially the reading we have for today. He was salt to the earth and a light to the world during his short but eventful life…”

Fr Kevin then went on to add:

“I hope today you will take some time to think ‘What is it that I am learning at Siena that I’ll take forward into my future life: is it the beauty of Jesus, or the goodness of each human being and their dignity; or how to reach out to the poor? Or some other value that I cherish?’ Whatever it is, may each one of you think of yourselves at salt and light to our needy world; as you do this you will be living out your school motto, VERITAS – truth.”

Plenary Council 2020

Exciting news - the Catholic Church is providing Australians with the opportunity to define the future of the Church in Australia with the Plenary Council 2020. While the Plenary Council is, in part, a response to the Royal Commission it also provides the Catholic community with the opportunity to play a role in the consultation process as the Church embarks on a restart and a refresh by asking the question: what is God asking of the Church Australia?

It’s an opportunity for the Catholic community in Australia to affect real and much-needed change in our Church.

The consultation process began recently in Canberra where four open dialogue sessions were held. These sessions were aimed at engaging with disenfranchised Catholics who have left the Church in the wake of the Royal Commission. The sessions were held away from any Church-owned property to create an air of neutrality and an environment where each person could speak freely.

The dialogue sessions are the first step in a three-stage process: dialogue, discernment and legislation.

The process will culminate in a meeting involving all the bishops in Australia in Adelaide to be held in March of 2021. The goal of will be to distil the proposals resulting from the Plenary Council 2020 and transform them into points of action which will determine the future of the Catholic Church.

Early in Term 3, Siena College proudly hosted the first of two Junior Gifted and Talented Days for 2018.

Early in Term 3, Siena College proudly hosted the first of two Junior Gifted and Talented Days for 2018. Over 140 students from the local schools joined an enthusiastic group of Siena girls to participate in the Junior Stretch and Challenge Day. The conference was an intensive one day program of short lectures for Year 7, 8 and 9 students, presented by Julie Arliss, Farmington Fellow at Oxford University and founder of Academy Conferences. The program seeks to identify and challenge the students' preconceived ideas and encourage them to think creatively about their world. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to interact with other like-minded students as they explore a range of interesting and thought provoking ideas about relevant modern day issues.

In the first session of the day, Julie presented a lecture entitled ‘Justice, Truth, Beauty and Mathematics’. The session explored the difficulty of achieving agreement about ‘what is justice?’ and ‘what is the point of punishment’? She used contemporary examples to demonstrate the complexity of the related philosophical issues and the impact on other areas of human knowledge, such as beauty, mathematics and art.

The second session was an interactive discussion based on a community of enquiry approach. The students formed small, mixed groups and were given a set of tasks designed to stimulate discussion based on the question, ‘Do animals feel pain and is it OK to kill them?’ Each team worked to reach consensus on a set of ideas, then elected a spokesperson to present their ideas at the end of the session.

After lunch, Julie introduced her colleague Dr Andrew Pinsent, resident Physicist, Philosopher and Theologian from Oxford University. He presented a lecture entitled, ‘Science: What comes First, Observation or Inspiration?’ which examined the underlying ideas that frame science. The students were inspired to think how they, as the next generation of inventors, will use science to solve current and future challenges.

The final session was a debate based on the contention ‘That it is never right to kill a person’. The debate gave students an awareness of the inconsistencies of our laws, which prohibit killing, yet condone killing in war. The debate also addressed the many issues surrounding capital punishment. This session gave the students an opportunity to apply quite a different set of analytical and evaluative skills, as they listened to the debate between Julia and Dr Pinsent. The session concluded with an invitation for students to contribute their opinions on the topic and ended with a vote on the issue.

The first of the 2018 Gifted and Talented Days provided students with an engaging and enriching experience as they were encouraged to broaden their understanding of the world. Julie Arliss and Dr. Pinsent presented a series of well-researched lectures designed to complement and enrich school-based gifted programs as well as extending and deepening gifted students' understanding of traditional school subject matter.

Ms Heather O’Keefe and Mrs Ansalie Hanrahan

Student reflections:

I thought the Gifted and Talented Day was a really great experience that helped me delve deeper into topics that I don’t usually consider. I enjoyed collaborating with different schools as there were a lot of different opinions to be shared.- Bridie Warren, 8B

On Tuesday, I participated in the Junior Stretch and Challenge Day. Something new I learnt from listening to our guest speaker Julie, was how justice, truth, beauty and maths are all connected in a way I’d never considered or thought of before. This session got me thinking about what justice is, and whether it is something mankind has constructed, or not. I really liked hearing other students’ views on the subject of ‘Do animals feel pain and have a right not to be eaten?’ as they challenged my opinions. Meeting new people and discussing various questions with them has helped my confidence, and I will be able to use this in my classes at school. The day gave me a new understanding of many topics, and challenged me to think and work with completely unfamiliar people.-Giulia D’Angelo

Throughout the conference, I learnt about how justice, maths and beauty are all linked together and to think beyond the simple things in life to ask questions about why and how all these topics and ideas can be grouped together. I enjoyed listening to the students from other schools’ ideas; they were insightful, and everyone had a different opinion. Listening to each other also inspired me to think from different perspectives and broaden my thinking. Julie Arliss led a passionate debate amongst the students, and Fr Andrew Pinsent gave us an insight into the science of everything possibly imaginable and linked it with religion and theology. I can apply the knowledge I gained from this experience in analytical reports, essays, and conversations I have with my peers. This engaging experience was collaborative, inspiring, and challenging. I would thoroughly enjoy it if this experience was to be available again. -Ella Graham 8D

After qualifying through an online quiz, we were invited to attend a fantastic day at the Florey Centre for Neuroscience, at Melbourne University. Gabrielle Mannix, Matilda Baker, Emily Abrahams, Natasha Walsh, and Lucy Salvati enjoyed talks from guest speakers, neuroscience quizzes, an amazing tour of the working labs (seeing research into neural growth), and a tour of the Dax Gallery of mental health artworks.

We have been very fortunate here at Siena to have three authors visit over the past couple of months...

We have been very fortunate here at Siena to have three authors visit over the past couple of months to work closely with the budding writers amongst our cohort. Students have had the opportunity to hear these published authors speak and to take part in writing workshops.

Our first visit was from young adult crime writer Ellie Marney. Ellie chatted to students in the Library at lunch and then worked with a group of Year 8 students in a writing workshop. Ellie will be back again later in the year to work with the Year 9 English classes on their Crime Writing unit.

Melbourne-based writer Gabrielle Williams also visited Siena College to work with Year 10 students. Gabrielle writes humorous young adult fiction and spoke to students about how she became a writer. As with Ellie, Gabrielle worked with a small group of Year 10 students on a character writing workshop. The students involved enjoyed coming up with creative, entertaining and, most importantly, flawed, characters.

Most recently, Robert Newton, author of the novel 'Runner', spoke to Year 8 students about what inspired him to become a writer and how he juggles writing with his other job as a firefighter. The Year 8s who are currently studying 'Runner' found Robert’s presentation engaging and informative, they had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the importance of the novel as a piece of historical fiction.

Although our visiting authors came to writing in different ways, the common factor in their success was their passion for writing and willingness to persevere with a story, redraft and take on feedback. These events are invaluable for our English students to learn from experienced, published writers and we thank Ellie, Gabrielle and Robert for sharing their wisdom.

Students who would like to be involved in future writing workshops should speak to their English teacher or contact Miss Joyce.

Music Camp 2018

On 4 August, students from Junior Band, Junior Choir, Junior Strings, Symphonic Band, Senior Strings and Groove Train all made their way to Rutherford Park Camp in Blampied for the Annual Music Camp. Students enjoyed learning new pieces, developing their ensemble and musicianship skills and spending time with new and old friends. We all had fun with Mr Ferris’ Trivia Night as well as the Movie Night and a few card games. The camp concert was a wonderful celebration of what was achieved on camp. We look forward to sharing our music with families at the upcoming Annual Concert. Thank you to all staff who assisted; without your talent and support music camp wouldn’t be possible.

Student reflection

“My favourite thing about Music Camp…. Playing music with friends, making new friends, learning new music, learning heaps from the sectionals, having fun at the trivia night, playing in the super band, the food, hanging out with friends, playing clarinet……….”

On Monday, 23 July and Wednesday, 25 July our very excited cohort of Year 8 students headed to Lower Plenty to enjoy a day of reflection in the beautiful surrounds and gardens of Amberley. Our day was led by the GPBS team, (Gather Proclaim Break Send), and filled with music, song, dance, and deep personal reflection.

Our first session, Gathering, was focused on the Cross and the intentions we hold deep in our hearts. Lighting a candle reminds us that we are a people of hope, that we are not alone on the journey, and that we embrace Jesus’ message of God’s love for all. Our next session, Together, challenged us to embrace the power of the team. We are strong when we live our lives in partnership; we are made for community and become more whole when we share our lives with others.

Women who Inspire, our third session, focused on the role-models in our world. ‘Who inspires me and why?’ created powerful discussion. We also conversed about the challenges we all face in the ways social media is used. We worked in groups to discern ways we could illicit the most beneficial and affirming impact of the legacy of impressive women and use of technology. We critically considered how we use Social Media ourselves as a positive influence.

After lunch, our day concluded with a Eucharist, celebrated by our Chaplain, Fr Kevin Toomey OP. We prayed with music, story and by remembering the needs of our world. The beautiful live music created by Alyssa and Dan enriched and supported our Day of Reflection.

Student reflections

‘On 23 July 2018, some of the year 8 students went to Amberley for a Reflection Day. Throughout the day we reflected upon how we can make the world a better place through music, film and prayer. We learned about inspiring women and men and how inspiring people have changed the world for the better like Malala, Bethany Hamilton and Rick and Dick Hoytz. All of the stories we heard were very heartwarming and made us aspire to become inspiring. At the end of the day we shared Eucharist and Liturgy with Father Kevin, students, teachers and the staff from Amberley. Overall it was a great day!’Ashling O’Farrell

‘On 23 July we went to Amberley for our second Siena Day of Reflection, as part of the Religious Education and Faith Development program. Before we left, we felt excited about what we would be doing and what it would be like. During the first session on Together, we were inspired by a video we watched about a father and son who ran marathons, rode and swam together, even though the son couldn’t walk or talk. From this video, we learnt about teamwork and standing together. During the second session on Women who Inspire, we were thinking about how these women make a big difference in the world and what we can do to be like them in the future. Our final activity was to have a Mass, celebrated by Fr Kevin Toomey OP, a Dominican and our school Chaplain. This was a lovely end to a day of growth and inspiration.’Sarah White, Sasha Sahely and Lucy O’Connell

‘On 23 July we went to Amberley for our second Siena Day of Reflection. Upon arrival, Amberley was very warm and inviting. We were excited to see instruments and a beautiful cross. During the first session on Together, we were thinking about how we can do so much more if we give each other a hand and how being together sounds so much more fun than doing things alone. During the second session on Women who Inspire, we were thinking about all the inspirational girls out there and how we can be one ourself. Our group specifically focused on Bethany Hamilton, a brave woman who continued surfing despite the fact that she was involved in a shark attack, losing her arm. A Day of Reflection is a day for contemplation, thinking deeply and reflecting about how I am going in my life.’Lucinda Burgin Uhlherr and Aurelia Tjitji

On Wednesday, 23 July, we visited Amberley for a day of reflection. When we arrived we were warmly welcomed by the Gather, Praise, Break, Sing (GPBS) ministry group. Our first session was on Together, emphasising the idea of how more can be achieved by working collaboratively. We watched a short video clip on two men who enforced the spirit of working together! Rick, due to a complication at birth, wasn’t able to talk or walk. With the advanced technology of today, he was able to communicate to his father, Dick, that he wanted to run in marathons. Together, they ran. Dick was the body and Rick was the heart and spirit. This made me think about the bigger impact that ‘together’ can make. The next session was focused on the women in our world who inspire. I was thinking about the hard work and determination that they exert in order to accomplish their goals. Finally, we had a mass celebrated by Fr Kevin Toomey OP, who is our school Chaplain. This was a great time to value being in the present and to reflect on who we are and what impact we strive to make on the world. The experience at Amberley made me think about the small things we can all do to make a difference. Overall, the Day of Reflection was a day to contemplate and reflect on how I am going in my life. I learnt many things, one of which being that ‘together’ is powerful and that you only need a passion for empowerment to inspire others.

A Philosothon is concerned with big questions at the edge of science and reason and explores philosophical and ethical issues orally. Schools that attended included Camberwell Girls, MacRobertson Girls High, McKinnon Secondary, MLC, Albert Park, Aquinas, Scotch and Siena College. A community of inquiry aims to encourage learners to think critically, collaborately, caringly, and creatively. To do this, the students were divided into groups of ten, presented with a stimulus or philosophical discussion topic, which developed into a framework for dialogue after they had thought about their own philosophical question.

After lunch, the students were divided into groups of ten (two teams) to undertake an Ethics Olympiad. They were each given a case study and five minutes to prepare their presentation with each team responding alternatively. A judge independently scored each team.

Overall, the day offered a unique opportunity for academically gifted students to be inspired to undertake philosophical and ethical inquiry. They were provided with many opportunities to further improve their critical thinking and to think systematically and rigorously about contemporary issues. They are now looking forward to the opportunity to participate in an Ethics Olympiad with students from around Australia and later on, around the globe through Skype.

Student Reflections:

The Philosothon and Ethics Olympiad was an engaging experience that made me think about ethics and the importance of an ethical principle. We learnt about different ethical philosophies and the difference between them. I really enjoyed the Ethics Olympiad at the end of the day where we were able to debate about different topics with members of different schools.Sophie Gurney

Coming out of the excursion, we felt very inspired and we are looking forward to being able to participate in our own ethics Olympiad. The day consisted of a morning where we participated in a community of inquiry and learnt how to effectively discuss and give reason to our opinions. In the afternoon we delved deeper into ethics and even ran our own ethics Olympiad together with another school. Overall the day enriched our learning and the skills we have to reason with which we can use throughout our schooling.Yasmin Howard and Velentina Boulter (Year 11 Philosophy students)

It was interesting to discuss different ethical and moral dilemmas with students from other schools in a different environment. It was also beneficial to understand how an ethics Olympiad works and how it is similar and different to what we’ve experienced in class discussions and in debates. The content included and the resource pack we received were also very extensive. Olivia Wilhelm (Year 11 Philosophy)

Friday, 27 July was National Tree Planting Day. 8B Geography class decided that we would like to plant some trees around the school to celebrate.

Friday, 27 July was National Tree Planting Day. 8B Geography class decided that we would like to plant some trees around the school to celebrate. At first, Mrs Moore thought that we could dig the holes for the trees ourselves, until she later found out that there was actually a tennis court underneath where we would be digging! Therefore, Mrs Moore decided to request some help!

On the morning of the tree planting, our class split off into two groups: one group planted an olive tree next to the chicken coop and the other group planted two lemon trees in the Mezei House garden. I was in the group planting the lemon trees. The lemon trees weighed around 70kg, so we had to get some help to roll them into the holes! Once they were securely in, we were handed shovels and had the task of laying the soil that had been dug up, back on and around the newly planted lemon trees.

The lemon trees were in fact already 10 years old and had a couple of lemons sprouting on some branches. We were told that if the trees were planted correctly, were surrounded with enough soil, and earth that they would grow to live a strong healthy life.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable morning and I would definitely like to do something like this again!Macey Brick, 8B

Siena College has had a busy but positive start to Term 3 GSV Sport, competing in soccer, volleyball and badminton. ..

Siena College has had a busy but positive start to Term 3 GSV Sport, competing in soccer, volleyball and badminton. With a strong group of soccer players, as shown by Siena College’s successful 5-a-side GSV Tournament in July, we have commenced with a winning start at Intermediate and Junior levels. Siena College has also made a successful start to the term in volleyball, winning a number of games and showing a strong, competitive spirit. While we have been less fortunate in badminton, the girls continue to work hard and represent the College well.

In addition to GSV Sport, we have a number of major sporting events fast approaching this term, namely, the Interhouse Athletics Carnival, the Interschool Snowsports and the Aeroschools Nationals in the Gold Coast. We will also be competing at the GSV Championship Athletics Carnival at Lakeside Athletics Track. If you would like further information regarding these events, please refer to the Siena Central Sports Page

It has been incredibly busy in the Careers Office recently with subject selections and tertiary course decisions requiring careful consideration

It has been incredibly busy in the Career’s Office recently with Year 9 and 10 students seeking help with choosing subjects and researching careers, as well as Year 12 students applying for tertiary courses through VTAC and seeking assistance with SEAS (special consideration) and scholarship applications. We are extremely fortunate that we have a representative from VTAC visiting Siena College on Monday 20th August at 6.30pm to take Year 12 students and their parents through the application process. Students from Year 11 and their parents are welcome, but bear in mind there may be some minor changes in 2019 when they will be applying.

In this week’s Siena Career News you will find information on Important dates for Year 12s applying for tertiary courses both here in Victoria and interstate, also information on the CASPer test required for entry into teaching courses, a list of free TAFE courses as well as details on the new Guaranteed Entry into the University of Melbourne Graduate programs.

Occasionally an archivist comes across a simple sentence and on reflection realises it is much more than that.

Occasionally an archivist comes across a simple sentence and on reflection realises it is much more than that. The last comments in Miss Bakhap’s letter of December 1940 read: It was just a Speech Night perhaps; but, a Speech Night with a difference! – A cameo in my memory.' The program for that first speech night and Miss Bakhap’s congratulatory letter highlight how Siena’s curriculum and cultural activities have evolved over the intervening seventy to eighty years.

Art of Speech was included in the advertisement for Siena Convent in 1942 and our records show that a number of our students sat for Elocution and Art of Speech Examinations with The London Trinity College of Music until the late 1950s. We have treasured donations of exam cards, results, certificates and medals. Photos show the joy and pride of our students who achieved great results in this area of their studies.

We are very grateful to our Siena alumnae who, by their donations, have helped shape our understanding of life at Siena in the early days.

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020...

As we continue the enrolment process for students wishing to enter Siena College for Year 7 in 2020, we would like to remind any current families with daughters in Grade 5 to please ensure that you have submitted an enrolment form. Enrolment Forms and Prospectus packs are available from Reception or via our website.

Staff Faith Development Day, Staff Long Service acknowledgements, Convent Open Morning, A Chorus Line...

At the commencement of Term 2, Siena College staff participated in an enriching Staff Faith Development Day as we again welcomed former Master of the Dominican Order and highly regarded theologian, Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP to our College. Together with staff from Presentation College and Our Lady of Sion, we reaffirmed our sense of commitment to our shared endeavours as Dominican educators and to our Mission of Truth Searching. We thank Fr Radcliffe for another thought provoking and insightful presentation, more details of which can be found in 'Mission Matters'.

Siena College Board and staff gathered this week to acknowledge long service of several staff members. Board Chair Sean McGing welcomed all present, particularly incoming Board members, Vanessa Barcellona and Neal Murphy. Maree Cody, Angela Ho, Georgie Plasto, Anita Galli, Danielle Soccio and Maree Hodgson were all thanked for ten years of service to the College, Sandra Siapantis for twenty years and Anne Rice for thirty years. The contribution all have made to College life cannot be overstated and we thank them for their excellence as educators. Additionally the Board ack